Romanian authorities informed the Russian ambassador in Bucharest to reduce the number of diplomatic and technical-administrative staff of the Russian Federation in Romania on Thursday, adding that the embassy has 30 days to comply, according to Euractiv.
During a meeting with the secretary of state for Strategic Affairs, the Russian ambassador Valery Kuzmin was informed that he must slash the number of positions in Romania by 51 posts – 21 diplomatic positions and 30 technical-administrative, respectively.
The Russian Embassy has 30 days to implement the decision of the Romanian authorities.
If not, the Romanian Foreign Ministry will withdraw the accreditation of some members of the diplomatic and technical-administrative staff of the Russian Federation in Romania.
The measure was adopted by the provisions of Art. 11 paragraph 1 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and reflected the current level of bilateral relations, drastically reduced by Romania after Russia invaded Ukraine, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Romania expelled 11 Russian diplomats, and Russia responded by expelling 11 diplomats from the Romanian Embassy in Moscow in 2022.
The decision comes after the comments of Kuzmin regarding bilateral relations.
The Romanian authorities are not as tough in their relations with Russia as other NATO member states, Valery Kuzmin, Russia’s ambassador to Bucharest, said on Tuesday, June 6.