Why did Britain expel Russian diplomats?

Twenty-three Russian diplomats in Britain were expelled, bilateral high-level contacts with Russia were suspended, and members of the British royal family and government officials would not attend the World Cup held in Russia this summer. On 14, British Prime Minister Theresa May announced a series of sanctions against Russia in parliament in retaliation for Russia's "involvement" in the poisoning incident of former Russian agent Krippahl in Britain.

Reuters said that because the deadline set by Britain at midnight on Wednesday still failed to receive an explanation from Moscow, theresa may announced on 14 that Britain would expel 23 Russian diplomats as a counter-measure to the case that the former Russian agent Krippahl's father and daughter were poisoned by nerve agents in Britain. May first convened an emergency meeting of the National Security Council that morning, and then announced the sanctions decision in Parliament. She said: "According to the Vienna Convention, Britain will expel 23 Russian diplomats, who are considered as undeclared intelligence personnel." These Russian diplomats will be ordered to leave Britain within a week. Mei said that this is the largest expulsion of diplomats in Britain in 30 years, and Russia's ability to collect intelligence in Britain will be weakened.

In addition, Britain will suspend bilateral high-level diplomatic contacts with Russia and withdraw its invitation to visit the Russian Foreign Minister. Members of the British royal family and senior officials will not attend the World Cup in Russia, but Britain will attend as usual. May also said: "In the future, if there is evidence that Russian assets are being used to threaten the lives or property of British citizens or residents, we will freeze these assets."

Britain expelled 23 Russian diplomats at a time, which was the largest British expulsion of diplomats after the Cold War. 197 1 year, Britain expelled 105 Soviet diplomats. From 65438 to 0985, Britain and the Soviet Union expelled 25 diplomats from each other. Before making the decision to expel Russian diplomats, the British government decided that the toxins in the father and daughter of Krippahl, a former Russian agent who was poisoned in Britain not long ago, came from the military-grade nerve agent "Knox" developed by the Soviet Union, so the poisoning case was "most likely" planned by the Russian government. On June 5438+02, the British government summoned the Russian ambassador to Britain and issued an "ultimatum" to the Russian government, asking it to explain within 24 hours.

On June 4th, 65438, the British media focused on the progress of the Krippahl case. From time to time, military police wearing gas masks appeared on TV to collect evidence at the scene. In addition, the bizarre death of Russian businessman grosz Kov in his London apartment on June 5438+03 also attracted the attention of the British media. This person is a close friend of Russian tycoon berezovsky in exile in Britain. At present, the British police are investigating the case, but they have not found any connection with the Krippahl poisoning case.

Regarding Britain's decision on sanctions, Jakovleff, Russian ambassador to Britain, said on 14 that Britain would expel Russian diplomats and Russia would take corresponding measures. He said that London's reaction to the Krippahl incident was absolutely unacceptable to Russia, which regarded it as a provocative act.

"This shows that a new cold war between Russia and the West has arrived." According to the Canadian Globe and Mail, no matter what the final fact of the Krippahl case is, Russia and the West can see a new cold war from it. Russians believe that the West is hostile to Russia's strength and interests, highly suspicious and morbidly afraid of Russia and its leaders, interfering in and manipulating Russia's internal affairs, such as Crimea and human rights, and trying to strangle Russia's economy through sanctions. On the other hand, the west believes that Russia under Putin is expanding dangerously and actively: invading neighboring countries, interfering in Middle East affairs, undermining arms control treaties, interfering in democratic elections, and even carrying out assassinations in broad daylight in western cities. If this case finally proves that Russia is involved, it will only strengthen the western point of view. Even if it turns out that there is no connection with Russia, it will not shake people's views. In response, a Russian journalist wrote on Twitter: "The Anglo-Saxons arranged the Cold War version 2.0 before the Russian presidential election."