Jakarta, CNN Indonesia –
Government Russia and Ukraine expelling diplomats from each other as a result of the conflict between the two countries that has become increasingly tense in the border area.
Reported AFP, Sunday (18/4), Russia decided to expel a diplomat from the Ukrainian Consulate in the city of Saint Petersburg because he was caught trying to steal state secrets.
Russia has so far arrested a number of Ukrainian citizens who are suspected of being spies. However, they rarely catch diplomats.
“A Ukrainian diplomat, the consul at the Consulate General in Saint Petersburg, Alexander Sosonyuk, was arrested by an Intelligence Service (FSB) agent,” said a statement by the Russian government.
According to reports, the FSB arrested Sosonyuk last Friday. The Russian Foreign Ministry then summoned the Chargé d’Affaires of Ukraine, Vasy Pokotylo, and said Sosonyuk was given 72 hours until April 19 to leave the country.
“Such activity is incompatible with the diplomatic status and endangers the Russian Federation. In accordance with international law, we will take action against the diplomat,” the FSB statement read.
In response to the incident, the Ukrainian government accused Russia of violating the rules of the convention on diplomatic relations and increasing the tension of the dispute.
“In response to these incidents and provocations, we ask the senior Russian diplomats at their embassy in Kiev to leave Ukraine within 72 hours starting April 19,” said Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleg Nikolenko.
Relations between the two countries have been heating up after deploying troops to the eastern border of Ukraine occupied by separatist rebels.
This condition could make the war between the two countries repeat itself in 2014.
War in eastern Ukraine broke out in 2014 after then -Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, who was close to Russia, collapsed as a result of a wave of demonstrations. In the war reportedly claimed the lives of more than 13 thousand people, and Ukraine also lost Crimea which is now occupied by Russia.
Ukraine then asked for help from the Western bloc through the North Atlantic Defense Pact (NATO) to help them from the threat of war with Russia.
The United States as one of Ukraine’s allies has stated that it will continue to support the country against Russia.
(ayp/ayp)
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