Colombia expels two Russian diplomats and Moscow retaliates

Defence Redefined

23/12/2020

The Colombian government announced Tuesday that in early December it proceeded to expel two Russian diplomats from the territory of the Latin American country, a move that prompted Russia to expel, in turn, two Colombian diplomats.

Bogota did not provide detailed explanations for the reasons that led it to expel the two diplomats. However, according to media reports in the country, they are allegedly involved in an espionage case.

The Russians “acted in violation of the Vienna Convention” on diplomatic relations, right-wing President Ivan Duque said in an interview with NTN24.

Following their expulsion, “the government of the Russian Federation in turn expelled two Colombian diplomats accredited in Moscow,” Cancellería – the Colombian Foreign Ministry – said in a press release.

Colombian Immigration Director, Juan Francisco Espinosa, said during a press conference that the two diplomats left Colombia on December 8th. “Given the circumstances of their departure (…) they are not allowed to return in the short term,” Mr Espinosa added.

Colombian authorities announced in June that they had expelled a “spy” from Venezuela, who was acting for the government of Socialist President Nicolas Maduro. The latter cut off diplomatic relations between Caracas and Bogota in February 2019.

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Source: ANA MPA