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| Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras |
Russia must stop interfering in domestic affairs and treating Greece with disrespect, the Greek foreign ministry said, after Moscow warned of consequences following the expulsion by Greece of two Russian diplomats.
After Russiaโs foreign ministry reportedly accused Athens of not communicating with Russian authorities, the foreign ministry said in a statement that it had presented Moscow with the evidence upon which it had acted.
It added that the Russian authorities โare very well aware of what their people doโ and said they seemed โto want to legitimise these illegal actionsโ.
โThe constant disrespect for Greece must stop. No one can or has the right to interfere in Greeceโs domestic affairs,โ the statement said. The reported remarks by Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, showed โa lack of understanding of todayโs world, in which states, regardless of their size, are independent and can exercise an independent, multidimensional and democratic foreign policy,โ it added.
Athens expelled the two Russian diplomats and barred two other people from entering the country last week, accusing them of trying to bribe unidentified officials and foment demonstrations to thwart a deal to allow Macedonia to join NATO.
The issue is sensitive in Greece, where political stability is pivotal as the country emerges from a huge debt crisis. Prime Minister Alexis Tsiprasโ fragile left-right coalition recently lost two lawmakers who quit after the Macedonia accord, bringing his parliamentary majority to 152 out of a total of 300 seats.
Moscow has denied wrongdoing.
Following the incident, Greece said that it still seeks good relations with Russia, but the case has soured relations between the two countries, which have religious and cultural links spanning centuries.
Russiaโs ambassador to Athens was reported as saying on Thursday that the timing of a planned visit to Greece by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in September was no longer suitable.
