BREAKING: Greece expels 12 Russian diplomats

Twelve members of Russia’s Diplomatic and Consular Missions in Greece are being expelled, according to an announcement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to the Foreign Ministry, the Russian diplomats are characterised as persona non grata in Greece, but no specific reason has been given yet.

The announcement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

The Greek authorities have declared 12 members of the Diplomatic and Consular Missions of the Russian Federation, accredited in Greece, as personae non gratae.

The above were declared undesirable in accordance with the provisions of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Affairs and the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Affairs.

The Acting Secretary General informed the Russian Ambassador earlier today about this decision.

Although a specific reason has not been given, Athens condemned the killings of unarmed civilians in Bucha on the outskirts of Kyiv.

“Those who perpetrated these crimes must be held accountable,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement in Greek on Monday.

“We call for the immediate investigation of the crimes and the punishment of those responsible,” it said.

Kyiv on Sunday accused the departing Russian forces of carrying out a “massacre” in the area. It said that the bodies of at least 410 civilians were found, many with bound hands, close-range gunshot wounds and signs of torture.

Moscow denied the allegation, describing photos and videos from the town as a “staged performance.”

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