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Russia will have to retaliate to expulsion of diplomats from North Macedonia — diplomat

North Macedonian authorities earlier decided to expel five Russian diplomats

MOSCOW, March 28./TASS/. The expulsion of five diplomats of the Russian Embassy to North Macedonia continues an unfriendly policy of this country’s leadership, that once again confirmed Skopje’s readiness to sacrifice its sovereignty and national interests. Russia will have to retaliate, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wrote in a commentary on Monday.

"This pointedly unfriendly move continues the course taken a few weeks ago by the authorities of North Macedonia towards a rapid demolition of bilateral relations with Russia," the diplomat said. "By joining the Russophobic hysteria unleashed by the West, Skopje reaffirmed its readiness to thoughtlessly sacrifice its sovereignty and make the decisions that go against the mood in society and are against the basic national interests," Zakharova went on to say. "We will have to take retaliatory measures," the diplomat added.

North Macedonian authorities decided to expel five Russian diplomats, Media Information Agency (MIA) reported on Monday. Russian Ambassador to North Macedonia Sergey Bazdnikin was summoned to the Foreign Ministry, where a diplomatic note was handed over to him, designating five diplomats from the Russian embassy as personae non gratae. The diplomats have to leave the country within five days.

Russian Embassy Spokesperson Ilya Serov has confirmed this information.

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