European Union foreign affairs spokesperson Christian Wigand confirmed on Tuesday that the mission successfully capped its personnel at 40 individuals, excluding the head of the delegation. Acting head of mission Karen Malayan oversaw the reductions, which EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas demanded to address a longstanding imbalance between the two sides.
Russia quietly downsizes Brussels mission following EU ultimatum
Russia has recalled approximately 20 diplomats from its mission to the European Union, meeting a strict September 1 deadline imposed by Brussels. The move, which notably lacks the usual retaliatory measures against EU staff in Moscow, follows allegations that the Russian delegation was used as a cover for espionage activities.
Prior to the mandate, the Russian mission maintained roughly 60 diplomats and technical staff, contrasted against the mere 10 diplomats stationed at the EU embassy in Moscow. Kallas justified the forced downsizing by citing the systemic abuse of diplomatic status for intelligence gathering. Unlike previous waves of expulsions, where the departure of 68 officials from Belgium triggered immediate counter-measures, Moscow has maintained a strategic silence this time, opting to comply without targeting the EU’s presence in Russia.
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