Russia suspends European diplomats for participating in rally seeking Navalny's release

Russia on Friday expelled diplomats from Germany, Poland, and Sweden after y participated in a protest last month seeking Alexei Navalny's release. Russian Foreign Ministry said that diplomats have been asked to leave country because y took part in "unlawful" rallies on January 23, when tens and thousands of people poured on streets of Moscow and or cities across Russia to protest against Navalny's detention. Russian Foreign Ministry has designated diplomats as "persona n grata", meaning y longer enjoy diplomatic immunity.

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European Union has condemned Russia's decision to expel diplomats for participating in protests. "I strongly condemned this decision and rejected allegations that y conducted activities incompatible with ir status as foreign diplomats. decision should be reconsidered," EU Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell said in a statement on day he attended a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Navalny row in Russia

Russia is currently facing wrath of international community, particularly West, over sentencing of opposition leer Alexei Navalny. international community, including European Union and United States, are demanding immediate release of Navalny and are asking Russia to respect rights of those protesting over his detention. 

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Russia witnessed mass protests earlier this week after a court reinstated Navalny's suspended sentence and ordered him to serve remaining term in prison. Russia responded to protests by detaining thousands of demonstrators and putting m in jail on pretext of m violating COVID-19 measures. Russia took similar actions on January 23 and January 31 after several thousand came to streets to protest against Navalny's arrest. 

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Navalny was arrested as soon as he landed from Germany, where he was undergoing treatment for five months after being poisoned last year. Prior to arriving in Russia, Navalny h been warned by Russian prison authorities that he could be jailed after reaching country for allegedly violating his suspended prison term while he was in a coma in Berlin. Navalny is a staunch critic of Russian President Vlimir Putin, which critics argue may have been reason behind his poisoning. 

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(Im Credit: AP)