Russia closes Swedish consulate – and expels five diplomats

Sweden’s ambassador in Moscow attended a meeting at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs today. At the meeting, Russian representatives announced that Russia is expelling five Swedish diplomats.

According to Russia, the message is a response to Sweden’s decision on April 25 to expel five officials at the Russian embassy.

Russia also announced that it has decided that the Swedish Consulate General in Saint Petersburg will be closed by September 1 at the latest and that it has decided to close the Russian Consulate General in Gothenburg.

The relationship between Russia and Sweden is at an “unprecedented level”, according to the Russian government.

The Russian message is “very regrettable”, according to Foreign Minister Tobias Billström (M).

– Russia has chosen to expel Swedish diplomats who acted within the framework of the Vienna Convention and conducted customary diplomatic activities in Russia, he says.

Billström continues:

– We also deeply regret the Russian announcement about the Consulate General in Saint Petersburg. The consulate has been a motor in the bilateral people-to-people cooperation between Russia and Sweden in the broadest sense. Today’s decision is therefore further confirmation of the negative political development in Russia and the country’s international isolation.