Albania declared Russian diplomat persona non grata

Albania has declared Russian diplomat Alexei Krivosheev persona non grata due to violation of anti-coronavirus measures, he must leave the country within 72 hours. Reported by RIA News with reference to the statement of the Foreign Ministry of Albania.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Albania informed the Russian Ambassador to Tirana, Mikhail Afanasyev, of the diplomat’s ongoing violations of measures to combat COVID-19.

“Unfortunately, contrary to promises, the diplomat continued to violate the measures taken … With regret, the Albanian government decided to declare diplomat Aleksey Krivosheev persona non grata with the obligation to leave the country within 72 hours from the moment of official notification,” the ministry said in a statement.

Earlier in January, it was reported that Russia would expel two employees of the Dutch embassy in Moscow in connection with the expulsion of two Russian diplomats from the country. In December last year, the Dutch authorities, relying on data from the Netherlands General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD), recognized two employees of the Russian embassy as employees of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service undercover. They were expelled from the country.