Russia - Expulsion of French diplomats (18 May 2022)

Share

France strongly condemns the decision taken by Russia today to expel French diplomats and staff stationed at the French Embassy in Russia. The decision is being presented by the Russian side as a response to France’s decisions, announced on 4 and 11 April 2022, to expel several dozen Russian agents acting on our territory under diplomatic status and working against our security interests.

By contrast, the work of these diplomats and staff at our embassy in Russia, to whose courage and great professionalism France pays tribute, falls fully within the framework of the Vienna Conventions on Diplomatic and Consular Relations. The Russian authorities’ decision has no legitimate basis. We can only deplore it.