It’s hard to find a country who didn’t join in the anti-Russian hysteria, following the poisoning of Sergei Skripal in the UK. Nations have been expelling Russian diplomats left and right.
The US even closed a consulate, and expelled 60 diplomats, and even tiny Moldova expelled 3 diplomats, – no concrete evidence has been produced linking Russia to the poisoning.
That of course, didn’t stop the media from immediately spreading mass hysteria.
At least ten countries, however, didn’t join in the mass expulsion of Russian diplomats, including Bulgaria, Slovakia, Slovenia, Austria, Portugal, New Zealand, Serbia, Cyprus, and Greece. Also on the list are Luxembourg and Malta.
Bulgaria and Greece have a special relationship with Russia, they share Orthodox faith and the Cyrillic alphabet. Russia even fought for Greek and Bulgarian Independence from the Ottoman Empire, so it’s no surprise there is much love between the nations.
According to a Greek expert, Greek solidarity did not go unnoticed in Moscow, Emilios George Ades Georgiades posted the following on his Facebook page:
But of course, Greece was not the only country that thought it wise to accuse Russia of a crime, with zero evidence. It’s in times like this, when Russia can see who their true friends are. Keep Talking Greece has put together this report, which Zero Hedge reposted:
The United States and its European allies are expelling dozens of Russian diplomats in a co-ordinated response to the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the UK (although there is no solid evidence on who is really behind the attack).
It is said to be the largest collective expulsion of Russian intelligence officers in history. However, as KeepTalkingGreece reports, some countries refuse to join this remarkable show of solidarity.
The United States and its European allies are expelling dozens of Russian diplomats in a co-ordinated response to the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the UK – and this although there is no solid evidence on who is really behind the attack. It is said to be the largest collective expulsion of Russian intelligence officers in history. However, some countries refuse to join this remarkable show of solidarity. Greece, Austria, Portugal and New Zealand are among the countries with no intention to expel Russian diplomats. More than 20 countries have aligned with the UK, expelling more than 100 diplomats.
Russia vowed to retaliate to the “provocative gesture”.
Russia denies any role in the attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, in Salisbury, southern England. The pair remain in a critical but stable condition in hospital.
EU leaders agreed last week it was highly likely Russia was behind the nerve-agent poisoning.
Mrs May said: “President Putin’s regime is carrying out acts of aggression against our shared values and interests within our continent and beyond. And as a sovereign European democracy, the United Kingdom will stand shoulder to shoulder with the EU and with Nato to face down these threats together.”
The Russian foreign ministry said the moves demonstrated a continuation of a “confrontational path”.
“It goes without saying that this unfriendly act by this group of countries will not go without notice and we will react to it,” its statement said.
Countries announced they were making the same move in solidarity on Monday. These are:
- US: 60 diplomats
- EU countries: France (4); Germany (4); Poland (4); Czech Republic (3); Lithuania (3); Denmark (2); Netherlands (2); Italy (2); Spain (2); Estonia (1); Croatia (1); Finland (1); Hungary (1); Latvia (1); Romania (1); Sweden (1)
- Ukraine: 13
- Canada: 4, plus the rejection of 3 further applications from Russia
- Albania: 2
- Australia: 2
- Norway: 1
- FYROM: 1
Late Monday, Ireland said to expel a number of Russian diplomats in line with other EU countries.
EU countries that have said they have no intention of expelling diplomats include Austria, Greece and Portugal, although all have said they support the UK and condemn the poisoning.
On its part, New Zealand said…
https://twitter.com/AFP/status/978511426095480832
It is very important to note that when we talk about not condemning Russia, Russia is not asking the nations of the world to place her above international law, or betray their own interests for her. This is a basic matter of presumption of innocence.
It is profoundly foolish, how quickly the leaders of uninvolved nations, like Moldova, betray their own people and interests, by taking hostile action against Russia without cause. We are merely talking about not immediately accusing, and punishing Russia, for something for a crime in which there is no evidence implicating her.
It is shocking, and downright Orwellian, that presumption of innocence is too much to ask for.
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