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A very serious case endangering Greek-Russian relations is under way. It is the expulsion of two Russian diplomats and the ban of two others entering Greece for illegal acts against national security.
Athens would blame the attempt to catch and disseminate information, as well as the corruption of officials.
According to diplomatic sources, Athens has already decided and ordered the immediate expulsion of two people – one being the staff of the Russian Embbady Viktor Yakovlev – and the ban on 39; a new entry into the country for two others, which are involved in many actions, including the activity of information (the diplomatic term for the capture and treatment of information) against Greece. The Athens initiative is not a "lightning strike in the sky" but comes in response to a series of concerted moves to expand Russian influence in Greece. Diplomatic sources include the activities of various Russian interest circles such as the Palestinian Orthodox Imperial Union. The reaction of Athens is, among other things, a message to Moscow and all these activities.
Nevertheless, the same sources say that Greece, as it has done over time, still wants to maintain good relations with Moscow. Russia, to promote the friendship of the two peoples, the cooperation of their governments and civil society actors on both sides. However, as they have said, this can only be done on the basis of parity and on condition of mutual respect for the sovereignty and independence of our two countries.
Scrippal Case
They also point out that Athens has always been very cautious. Managing Greco-Russian relations, bringing the example of the Scrippal case. At that time, Greece avoided following the example of other Western countries that were expelling Russian diplomats, which Russian political leaders welcomed. Similarly, according to the same diplomatic sources, despite the attempt of Athens to maintain relations with Moscow at a good level, several "mechanisms" related to Russian interests in Greece are trying to interfere in the interior from the country.
They added that by providing material and financial incentives, they tried to influence the municipalities and the metropolitans, but also to influence Mount Athos, with that that implies for the unhindered exercise of sovereignty over the Greek territory. the Greek state. An attempt was made to acquire state officials, who, according to the same information, failed.
According to high diplomatic sources, these actions undermine the friendship of the two peoples and the image of Russia in Greece, as they are part of a systematic effort to violate the country's sovereignty and international law . An example is the attempt to intervene on particularly sensitive national issues and interests of Greece in the Balkans, particularly on the issue of nomenclature with Macedonia.
What does the Russian Foreign Ministry answer?
The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that Moscow would respond in the same way to the expulsions of Russian diplomats from Athens.
At the same time, according to the RIA agency, a Russian deputy said that Russia would go ahead.
A diplomatic source of Reuters: "From July 6, the demand for expulsion from Athens"
Reuters quotes Reuters saying that the Greek authorities have up to present no direct comment on the question. ] Athens informed Russia on July 6 that it was going to expel Russian diplomats from the country for their illegal activity during rallies against the Greece-FYROM agreement on nomenclature, a diplomatic source told Reuters.
"We have been warning the Russian authorities for a long time about the actions of these four diplomats and citizens, and we made it official on Friday, giving them a reasonable period of time to leave the country," the source said. Reuters.
