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EU ambassador returns to Moscow, ‘resumed his duties today’, says spokesperson

EU Ambassador to Russia Markus Ederer has resumed his duties in Moscow

EU Ambassador to Russia Markus Ederer Valery Sharifulin/TASS

EU Ambassador to Russia Markus Ederer

© Valery Sharifulin/TASS

BRUSSELS, April 13. /TASS Corr. Asya Arutyunyan/. EU Ambassador to Russia Markus Ederer has resumed his duties in Moscow starting today, April 13, said a spokesperson for the EU Council in Brussels in a conversation with a TASS correspondent.

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Lavrov slams expulsion of Russian diplomats as 'provocation'

"Yes, he has resumed his duties starting today," he informed.

According to the spokesperson, Brussels had received valuable information during the course of the consultations with the ambassador. "He was recalled for consultations, which had special significance ahead of the EU Council meeting (which will take place on April 16 in Luxembourg). The consultations are now over, and he has resumed his duties," the EU spokesperson noted.

The diplomat stressed that the ambassador’s return to Moscow is key for maintaining the unity of EU members and preserving communication with Russia. "The ambassador plays an important role in preserving the unity of the EU and open political dialogue with Russia," he stressed.

On March 4, 66-year-old Sergei Skripal, who had been convicted in Russia of spying for Great Britain and later swapped for Russian intelligence officers, and his 33-year-old daughter Yulia suffered the effects of an alleged nerve agent in the British city of Salisbury. Claiming that the substance used in the attack had been a nerve agent allegedly developed in Russia, London rushed to accuse Moscow of being involved in the incident and expelled 23 Russian diplomats. Later on, a number of Western countries expelled Russian diplomats "in a show of solidarity" with the UK. The EU recalled its ambassador to Moscow, with more European countries following suit.

The Russian side flatly rejected all of UK’s accusations. In response, Moscow announced tit-for-tat measures with respect to the diplomatic missions of the countries that decided to expel Russian diplomats.

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Anti-Russian sanctions

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