Moscow expels five Portuguese diplomats in retaliatory move

Moscow, SANA- Moscow expelled five officials of the Portuguese embassy in Russia in retaliation for the expulsion of Russian diplomats from Portugal, Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

“Portugal’s ambassador in Moscow Madalena Fischer was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry on May 19 to be handed a strong protest over the provocative decision by the authorities of the Portuguese Republic to declare ten staffers of the Russian diplomatic office in Portugal as personae non gratae”.

The Ministry noted that Portugal diplomats are expected to leave the country’s territory within a 14-day deadline.

“The decision of the Portugal government will harm the bilateral relations between both countries” the Russian Ministry concluded in the statement.

Nisreen Othman / Amer.H.Dawa