Germany expels 40 Russian diplomats over Bucha killings

Berlin, Apr 4 (EFE).- Germany on Monday expelled 40 Russian diplomats from the embassy in Berlin over the alleged killings of hundreds of civilians in Ukraine’s town of Bucha, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

The diplomats, who have been asked to leave Germany, “work against our freedom and against our social cohesion day by day,” foreign minister Annalena Baerbock said, adding that the pictures of the victims showed “the unbelievable brutality of the Russian leadership”.

“We fear that similar images have been reproduced in other towns occupied by Russian troops,” the statement added.

The diplomats who have been declared “persona non grata” are members of the Russian embassy in Berlin whose work is “a threat to all those who seek protection in our country”.

Germany has so far rejected the possibility of blocking Russian imports of gas, oil and coal, despite strong pressure from partners such as Poland and the Baltic states. EFE

gc/mp