Russia cuts Brussels mission staff in compliance with EU cap

Russia has quietly withdrawn approximately 20 diplomats from Brussels in line with European Union demands, without resorting to any retaliatory measures against the EU mission in Moscow.

According to a report by the EUobserver portal, EU foreign affairs spokesperson Christian Wigand said the previous day: “The Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the EU has complied within the deadline with our decision to cap the maximum number of staff at 40 people, excluding the head of mission.”

Kaja Kallas, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, had set a deadline of 1 September for Russian Chargé d’Affaires Karen Malayan to complete the staff reduction. She cited Russia’s “abuse of diplomatic power” and the necessity of establishing a balanced staffing presence with her mission in Moscow.

The stated rationale of “abuse” rests on allegations that Russia has deployed hundreds of spies to Europe under the cover of diplomatic immunity.

Germany decides to close consulate

In an announcement on 1 September, Germany directly blamed Russia for an attack carried out at Leipzig Airport in early August and announced countermeasures.

Under these measures, it was announced that Russia’s Consulate General in Bonn as well as the Russian House in Berlin would be closed. Following the developments, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul also summoned the Russian Ambassador to the ministry.

The crisis in question began on 4 August with the detection of an explosives-laden unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) near a Ukrainian Antonov cargo aircraft at Leipzig/Halle Airport.

Russian ambassadors summoned across Europe

Following Germany’s attribution of the Leipzig attack to Moscow, numerous EU member states summoned Russian embassy representatives to their foreign ministries.

Condemning Russia’s “dangerous and irresponsible” actions, the Finnish Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian Ambassador. In its statement, the ministry said: “Russia’s actions will receive a resolute and clear response.”

Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka stated that Germany’s findings regarding the UAV attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport were alarming and had to be taken seriously.

Emphasising that he planned to discuss the issue with the Czech intelligence services in the coming days, Macinka announced that he had summoned Russia’s Ambassador to the Czech Republic, Anna Ponomaryova, to the ministry.

Sweden, Portugal, and Denmark were also among the countries that summoned Russian ambassadors. In his assessment of the matter, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said: “The Russian Ambassador has been summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a meeting. Germany has reported that Russia was behind the failed hybrid attack in Leipzig. We stand shoulder to shoulder within NATO and the EU. We remain steadfast in our support for Ukraine and in strengthening our collective defence capabilities.”

On the same day, alongside the European Union, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands also summoned Russian representatives to their foreign ministries.