US, Canadian and British ambassadors summoned to Russian Foreign Ministry for "interference" in Russia's internal politics
The Russian Foreign Ministry summoned the ambassadors of the US, Canada and Britain on Tuesday to draw their attention to their actions of "interference" in Russia's internal affairs, which could lead to their expulsion from the country, after they jointly condemned the sentencing of a Russian opponent by coming to court together, according to Agerpres.
Opponent Vladimir Kara-Murza, who holds dual Russian and British citizenship, was sentenced Monday by a Russian court to 25 years in prison, a sentence the West considers politically motivated. The 41-year-old Vladimir Kara-Murza has lobbied Western governments to impose sanctions against Russia and Russian officials for human rights violations and has spoken out against Russia's military campaign in Ukraine.
The Russian foreign ministry accused the three ambassadors of "gross interference in Russia's internal affairs and activity incompatible with their diplomatic status" after they appeared together before TV cameras on the steps of the Moscow court that tried Vladimir Kara-Murza and condemned the court's verdict. The British ambassador, Deborah Bronnert, even spoke in Russian, hoping that Russian TV would be encouraged to broadcast her message.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zaharova recalled after the episode that foreign diplomats, including the three ambassadors, who meddle in Russia's internal affairs risk expulsion.
"Any action on the part of the United States, Great Britain and Canada aimed at inciting discord and enmity in our country will be dealt with in the most decisive way, and diplomats involved in this subversive activity will be expelled from Russia," Maria Zaharova said.
Russian opposition figure Vladimir Kara-Murza was sentenced to 25 years in prison for treason in a harsh prison colony after accusing Vladimir Putin and criticising Russia's invasion of Ukraine, reports the BBC. He is also accused of spreading "false information" about the Russian military and illegal activity for an organisation deemed "undesirable". He has denied the charges and publicly criticised the lawsuit against him.
