London: Russian Ambassador in London Alexander Yakovenko has said that the Russian diplomats expelled from the United Kingdom (UK) over the spy poisoning will leave that country along with their families on March 20.
“They will leave on March 20,” Tass quoted Yakovenko as saying. Adding that about 80 people, the diplomats and their family members, would leave the United Kingdom.
The Russian Ambassador denied the UK’s allegations, saying, “It is nothing but a fable, absolute nonsense.” He added that nearly half of the embassy’s employees were to leave the country.
“These people are regular diplomats, 40% of the embassy’s staff. The embassy has never been overmanned since the Britons have always been practising expulsions. So, the staff has constantly been decreasing,” Yakovenko said.
“Naturally, further expulsions will reduce the embassy’s possibilities, first of all, as far as consular services are concerned. It will create certain problems but most of us understand where we are working and in the current situation each diplomat is ready for any unexpected developments,” he added.
Earlier on Wednesday, British Prime Minister Theresa expelled 23 Russian diplomats over spy poisoning.
The British Prime Minister gave a week’s time to the diplomats for leaving the country.
Britain will also cancel high-level contacts with Russia, said May.
Retired military intelligence officer Skripal, 66, and his daughter, Yulia, 33, were found slumped on a bench in Salisbury city centre on March 4. (ANI)