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NATO cuts Russia’s mission from 30 to 20

According to NATO's chief, "this sends a clear message to Russia that there are costs and consequences for its unacceptable and dangerous pattern of behavior"

NATO’s Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg EPA-EFE/OLIVIER HOSLET

NATO’s Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg

© EPA-EFE/OLIVIER HOSLET

BRUSSELS, March 27. /TASS/. NATO has reduced the staff of Russia’s mission from 30 to 20 over the reported poisoning of former GRU Colonel Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, which London blames on Moscow, NATO’s Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told a news conference in Brussels.

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"The North Atlantic Council has reduced the maximum size of the Russian Mission to NATO by ten people, in line with my decision. This will bring the maximum size down to twenty," Stoltenberg said.

"I have today withdrawn the accreditation of seven staff at the Russian Mission to NATO. I will also deny the pending accreditation request for three others," he explained.

"This sends a clear message to Russia that there are costs and consequences for its unacceptable and dangerous pattern of behavior," he claimed.

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