Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney announced four officials have been asked to leave
(Picture: PA Wire)Four senior Russian officials have been asked to leave Ireland, the country’s foreign minister confirmed on Tuesday.
Simon Coveney said they had been expelled as the Russian officials have not acted "in accordance with international standards of diplomatic behaviour".
Taoiseach Michael Martin said the decision was made following a security briefing on Monday.
Mr Coveney said: "This afternoon, the Department of Foreign Affairs summoned the Russian ambassador to Iveagh House to advise him that four senior officials have been asked to leave the state.
"This is because their activities have not been in accordance with international standards of diplomatic behaviour. This action is being taken under Article 9 of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
"The Government continues to believe that diplomatic channels between Ireland and the Russian Federation should remain open.
"This is in the interests of our citizens as well as to ensure that we can continue to have a diplomatic channel of communication between Ireland and the Russian Federation in the future.
"This channel of communication has been important in the context of conveying our strong views on the Russian Federation’s war against Ukraine, which we regard as a serious breach of international law."
Following questions in the Irish parliament, Mr Martin refused to comment.
A statement from the Russian embassy in Ireland, however, said the move by the Irish government “will not go unanswered”.
#Statement by the Embassy of Russia pic.twitter.com/sEdQizOGVx
— Russia in Ireland (@Rus_Emb_Ireland) March 29, 2022
A statement from the embassy read: “The Embassy of Russia in Ireland has been informed by the Department of Foreign Affairs of Ireland of the decision by the Government of Ireland to request that four members of the diplomatic staff of the Embassy leave Ireland shortly, because allegedly their actions have been found to be unacceptable.
"The Embassy rejects such qualifications of the work of our diplomats. This is arbitrary, groundless decision, which can only deteriorate further Russian-Irish relations, already damaged by the Irish participation in illegitimate EU sanctions against Russia.
"The Embassy proceeds from the assumption such a step by the Irish side will not go unanswered."
