State of play in tit-for-tat expulsions in spy poisoning row

PIC: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday Moscow would expel 60 US diplomats and close its consulate in Saint Petersburg. (AFP)

FRANCE - Russia on Saturday demanded that Britain further reduce its diplomatic staff in Moscow, the latest move in an escalating tit-for-tat dispute following the poisoning of a former Russian spy on British soil.

Russia had already kicked out 23 British envoys and closed a British consulate in response to the expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats by Britain, which accuses Moscow of poisoning former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the English city of Salisbury on March 4.

On Saturday, Moscow indicated as many as 50 more British diplomatic staff would be kicked out for the sake of parity as "the British side has more than 50 more people."

The United States, EU members, NATO and other nations have expelled over 150 Russian diplomats in a coordinated action against Moscow in support of Britain, and Russia has retaliated with similar moves.

Here is a list updated to Saturday of the countries involved and the number of envoys already expelled or put on notice to leave.

US

The United States: Expelled 60 alleged spies posted around the country and at the Russian mission to the United Nations in what a senior US official said was the biggest such move in US history.

Washington also closed the Russian consulate in Seattle over alleged spying at the nearby Kitsap submarine base and Boeing.

The retaliation against Moscow was taken "in response to Russia's use of a military-grade chemical weapon on the soil of the United Kingdom," White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said.

NATO 

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance was expelling seven Russian diplomats and denying accreditation to three more, all Belgium-based, an informed source told AFP.

"This will send a clear message to Russia that there are costs and consequences for their unacceptable pattern of behaviour," Stoltenberg said.

European Union

Eighteen EU nations have joined Britain in deciding to expel Russian diplomats following a European Council decision to react to Moscow within a common framework.

"Additional measures including further expulsions are not to be excluded in the coming days and weeks," EU President Donald Tusk said.

France, Germany and Poland led the way among Britain's EU allies as each expelled four diplomats. The Czech Republic and Lithuania booted out three, The Netherlands, Italy, Denmark and Spain two each and Belgium, Croatia Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Romania and Sweden expelled one.

Other EU members Bulgaria, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Slovakia and Slovenia have recalled their ambassadors for consultations but by Saturday afternoon none of the six had expelled any Russians.

Outside EU, other Western nations 

Ukraine has expelled 13 diplomats and President Petro Poroshenko called for even more action to be taken.

"The next step is to increase the price that Moscow has to pay for its international crimes, including the strengthening of personal, financial and economic sanctions," he said.

Canada ousted four diplomats, calling the nerve agent attack "a despicable, heinous and reckless act" while Australia has ordered two Russian diplomats to leave.

Moldova kicked out three diplomats, Albania two and Macedonia, Montenegro and Norway one apiece.

Russian retaliation

On Saturday March 17 Russia said it was expelling British diplomats in a tit-for-tat response to actions by London.

A foreign ministry statement said: "Twenty three diplomatic staff at the British embassy in Moscow are declared persona non grata and to be expelled within a week."

It said this was a response to Britain's "provocative actions" and "baseless accusations over the Salisbury incident. Moscow also said it would halt the activities of the British Council in Russia.

On Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow would expel 60 US diplomats and close its consulate in Saint Petersburg.

He accused London of "forcing everyone to follow an anti-Russian course."