Why are Russian diplomats increasingly declared as Persons non grata – the stunning data of recent years

A few days ago, the Bulgarian authorities announced the expulsion of a Russian diplomat from the country, as law enforcement officials revealed his espionage activities. The spy was named in the media – he was the first secretary of the Russian Embassy in Bulgaria Vladimir Rusyaev. Rusyaev tried to recruit members of the Bulgarian government and sought information from them regarding state secrets, information on issues of national security and the security of other NATO member states. Such activity shows that the Russian authorities are extremely disrespectful to European countries, trying to influence sovereign states and do not recognize international law.

Interestingly, in recent years, how many Russian spies have been exposed in the West, how great is the criminal activity of Russian diplomats; How dissatisfied are the countries with which the Kremlin has the appearance of civilized diplomatic relations. As it turned out, dozens of Russian diplomats were exposed and deported in 2011-2019 for actions that did not correspond to their status. Even incomplete data show that the activities of Russian diplomats have long gone beyond the norms of the civilized world;

On August 13, 2019, the Ukrainian Security Service announced that a Russian diplomat working at the Russian consulate in Lviv was declared a non-grata person and had already left the country. He was engaged in intelligence activities.

On November 22, 2018, Slovakia expelled a Russian diplomat and accused him of participating in intelligence activities. The diplomat left the country within 48 hours.

On October 4, 2018, it became known that on April 13, the Dutch intelligence services expelled those four Russians from the Netherlands who were planning a hacker attack on the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. The suspects had diplomatic passports. Amsterdam claimed that Russian citizens also tried to access investigation files regarding the downed Malaysian Boeing.

On July 11, 2018, Greek media reported the expulsion of two Russian diplomats. Media reported that diplomats tried to obtain and disseminate specific information, as well as bribe officials.

In March 2018, more than 100 Russian diplomats were deported from around the world. The reason was the incident on March 4 in Salisbury, when former GRU colonel Sergei Skripal and his daughter were poisoned. According to a British investigation, the Russian state was involved in the poisoning of the Skripals. On March 14, Teresa May announced the expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats from the kingdom. Within a few days, the EU issued a joint statement on the Salisbury incident, which speaks of Russia's responsibility. On March 26, to show solidarity with England, the United States announced the expulsion of more than 60 diplomats and the closure of the Russian consulate in Seattle. Russian diplomats were deported from Germany, France, Poland, Denmark, Italy, Finland, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Estonia, the Netherlands, Romania, Ukraine, Latvia, Canada, Australia and others. It is noteworthy that Georgia has also joined a solidarity campaign of such an unprecedented scale”, – an employee of the Russian Interest Section at the Swiss Embassy expelled.

On May 29, 2017, five Russian diplomats in Moldova were declared non grata persons. Prime Minister Pavel Filipp said that this step is based on information received from the Moldovan intelligence services.

On May 26, 2017, Estonia decided to expel two Russian diplomats from the country. These were the consul general of Narva Dmitry Kasyonov and consul Andrei Surgaev. The reasons were not made public.

On December 29, 2016, U.S. authorities announced that 36 Russian diplomats were expelled from the country because their activities did not match those of diplomats. The United States also restricted Russians' access to two housing estates used by the Russian office in the United States.

On July 13, 2015, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine declared Persona Non Grata acting Consul General in Odessa. The Security Service of Ukraine stated that “the decision was made because of its incompatibility with diplomatic activities.

In October 2014, Poland expelled several Russian diplomats due to activities that did not correspond to their status.

On February 1, 2011, Irish authorities announced the expulsion of an employee of the Russian embassy in Dublin. Police found that Russian spies forged various documents and used fake passports.

The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 gives the right to the host state at any time and without giving any reason to declare a person from the diplomatic staff a non grata person.

An accredited country must withdraw this person or suspend his activities in the host country. Persons with diplomatic status are protected from criminal, civil and administrative prosecution of diplomatically.