Prague/Vilnius/Moscow: – The political conflict between Russia and the western countries has intensified. In the Baltic region, Russian neighbours Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia have joined the Czech Republic and Poland countries in expelling Russian diplomats. Whereas the United States also has issued a summons to the Russian High-Commissioner in Washington. Russia has criticised the actions taken by these countries under US influence.
At the beginning of this week, NATO member Czech Republic expelled 19 Russian diplomats from the country. The Czech government said that the incident, which occurred six years ago, was the cause for this expulsion. A massive explosion had rocked the Czech military warehouse in 2014. The Czech military had termed the explosion as an accident at that time. But the Czech agencies justified their action against the Russian diplomats, claiming that Russia was involved and Russian agents had carried out the blasts.
In retaliation, Russia issued a warning and expelled 20 Czech diplomats. Reports are being received that the Russian action the Czech government infuriated has ordered to expel 63 Russian diplomats from the country. This is claimed to be the biggest action taken by the Czech Republic against Russia. While the Czech-Russia dispute is festering, Baltic countries Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia sent four Russian diplomats back home.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis criticised that there is no place for Russian spies in the European Union members. Whereas Lithuania and Estonia said that their action to expel Russian diplomats supported the Czech action. All three countries, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, were a part of the erstwhile Soviet Union. These Baltic countries, which separated during the disintegration of the Soviet Union in the decade of 1990, have aligned with the European countries.
A few hours ago, Russia expelled five polish diplomats, retaliating against the Polish action last week. But the expulsion of its diplomats from the Baltic countries comes as a shock to Russia. Russia criticised that Estonia has expelled the Russian diplomat without any grounds. Russia indicated that it would not be retaliating against these Baltic countries.
Meanwhile, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, criticised that the United States and the western countries under the US influence are wandering in an imaginary world. Zakharova also accused that the western countries are taking collective action against Russia.
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