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Germany and France have announced the expulsion of dozens of Russian diplomats, amid growing outrage at images of atrocities allegedly committed by Russian troops in Bucha, a city near Kyiv.
Germany will expel 40 Russian diplomats from Berlin. The individuals are believed to be Russian intelligence agents.
Foreign Minister Analena Burbock said Monday that the Bucha photos “testify to the incredible brutality of the Russian leadership and those who follow his propaganda, a desire for destruction that transcends all borders.”
Baerbock said the government had decided to declare a large number of Russian diplomats persona non grata and that the targets had “worked every day against our freedom, against the cohesion of our society.”
“Their work is a threat to those seeking protection here,” Bearbock said. “We will not tolerate this anymore,” she continued, and that the message was delivered to the Russian ambassador in Berlin on Monday afternoon.
The French Foreign Ministry said Monday night that France had decided to expel “many” Russians with diplomatic status “whose activities run counter to our security interests”, in line with a wider EU move against Moscow. Do not give more details about names or numbers.
A French official said about 35 Russians had been expelled.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Moscow would “react to this hostile act by the German political machine”, according to Interfax.
Baerbock said, “We must confront this inhumanity with the power of our freedom and our humanity,” she said. “But we must also make it clear that we will stand up for our freedom and we must be ready to defend it.
Additional reports from Max Sedon in Riga
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