The U.S. State Department has welcomed the decision by Greece to expel two Russian diplomats accused of supplying funds to protest groups opposing the “Macedonia” deal signed between Athens and Skopje last month.
State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert tweeted: “We support Greece defending its sovereignty. Russia must end its destabilizing behavior.”
#Greece expelled two Russian officials and barred entry of two others for attempting to interfere in Greek politics. We support Greece defending its sovereignty. #Russia must end its destabilizing behavior.
— Heather Nauert (@statedeptspox) July 12, 2018
A Russian source who spoke on condition of anonymity dismissed as “nonsense” allegations that Moscow’s diplomats were involved in undermining Greek public support for the Macedonia deal.
In Moscow, the Foreign Ministry took a careful stance.
Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned that diplomatic expulsions typically bring a tit-for-tat response, but underlined the importance of Russia-Greece ties.