UK Ambassador Thanks Georgia for Solidarity

Justin McKanzie Smith, the ambassador of the United Kingdom in Georgia, thanks Tbilisi for its solidarity.

The Ambassador took to twitter to thank Georgia after Tbilisi announced its plans to expel a Russian diplomat in support of the UK over the Skripal poisoning case.

“I’d like to sincerely thank Georgia for its solidarity. Our partners are standing beside us and Russia should realize that the violation of international norms will not go unpunished,” Justin McKanzie Smith tweeted.

გულწრფელი მადლობა საქართველოს სოლიდარობისთვის. ჩვენი პარტნიორები ჩვენს გვერდით დგანან და რუსეთი უნდა მიხვდეს, რომ მის მიერ საერთაშორისო სამართლის ნორმების დარღვევა დაუსჯელი არ დარჩება. https://t.co/TdfxD9lRpv

— Justin McKenzieSmith (@JustinMcKenzieS) March 29, 2018

Georgia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) stated on March 29 that it condemns the use of chemical weapons on the territory of the United Kingdom that caused the grave human suffering of three individuals and posed a serious threat to the life and health of others.

“This represents serious challenge for common security… The Ministry expresses solidarity with the United Kingdom, shares the position of the United Kingdom as well as of the international community on this matter and declares a member of the staff of the Russian Federation Interests Section at the Embassy of Switzerland in Tbilisi as an unacceptable person and requests they leave Georgia within 7 days,” the Georgian MFA stated.

The Swiss Embassy stated that expulsion of the Russian diplomat will not affect Swiss mandate, envisaging protection of Russian interests in Georgia.

"The Swiss Embassy has received the note of the Georgian Foreign Ministry and sent it to the section of Russian interests. The Swiss embassy has a special mandate envisaging the protection of the interests of Russia in Georgia and protection of Georgian interests in Russia. This note will not have any effect on the mentioned mandate," the Embassy said. 

Following the March 4 poisoning of former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, in Salisbury, England, Britain said that Russia is to be held responsible for the case and expelled 23 Russian diplomats from the country.

This step was followed by deportation of the same number of British diplomats from Russia and closure of British cultural institutions in Russia.

Russian diplomats are also being expelled from 18 European Union states, as well as from up to 10 non-EU states, including the United States, which is expelling the largest number of Russian diplomats – 60.

Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, stated in response that Moscow intends to kick out even more American diplomats.

By Thea Morrison