Russian Embassy calls Romania's decision to expel a Russian diplomat 'manifestation of collective political madness'

Romania's decision to expel a Russian diplomat in Bucharest - taken in the context of the chemical attack on former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in the UK - is probably "the manifestation of collective political madness," according to a message released by the Russian Embassy in Bucharest on Monday.

The comment is related to "numerous questions from the Romanian press to the embassy," according to the message.

"I think it is very likely that the decision taken is the manifestation of collective political madness, especially since there is no other plausible explanation," the embassy says.

Romania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) has notified the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Bucharest that one of the embassy's diplomats will be declared persona non-grata and will be expelled from the country, according to a MAE press statement released on Monday.

The reaction comes as a result of the conclusions of the European Council of March 23-24, as "the Foreign Ministry considers that the Salisbury attack is a threat against collective security and international law."

According to the conclusions, " the European Council agrees with the UK Government's assessment that it is highly likely that the Russian Federation is responsible for this attack, and that there is no other plausible explanation."

"We want to say that, in solidarity with the United Kingdom and in accordance with the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, the Foreign Ministry has notified the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Bucharest that one of the latter's diplomats will be declared persona non-grata, and will have to leave Romania," says MAE.

Russia denounced what it termed a "provocative gesture" the decision on Monday by 14 EU member states, plus the US, Canada and Ukraine, to expel Russian diplomats in a display of solidarity with the UK after Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Iulia got poisoned. Russian President Vladimir Putin will reportedly decide on responses, which will be based on the principle of reciprocity, according to the AFP and Reuters news agencies.

Moscow has denied having any involvement in the poisoning of the former Russian double spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter on March 4 in the first known attack with a neurotoxic agent in Europe after WWII.

The UK has expelled 23 Russian citizens following the scandal, and Moscow responded immediately by expelling a similar number of Britons. AGERPRES (RO - author: Oana Ghita, editor: Florin Marin; EN - author: Corneliu-Aurelian Colceriu, editor: Adina Panaitescu)