NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, in an interview with the German daily Bild on Friday, stated that in recent years, numerous employees of the Russian mission had been expelled from NATO headquarters due to suspicions of espionage.
“We have seen that Russian intelligence services have operated across European countries for many years,” Stoltenberg said in the interview.
“We’re also seeing attempts to step up their activities but of course, NATO allies are monitoring, following this very closely,” he added.
He said NATO “expelled, for instance, Russian personnel from NATO headquarters because we realized that they were carrying out activities that were not actually diplomatic work, but intelligence work.”
In October 2021, NATO expelled eight Russian diplomats deemed to be intelligence officers. As of November 1, 2021, Russia has suspended activities of its delegation to NATO, the NATO military liaison mission, and also the Alliance’s information office in Moscow.
“We’re also seeing attempts to step up their activities but of course, NATO allies are monitoring, following this very closely,” he added.
He said NATO “expelled, for instance, Russian personnel from NATO headquarters because we realized that they were carrying out activities that were not actually diplomatic work, but intelligence work.”
In October 2021, NATO expelled eight Russian diplomats deemed to be intelligence officers. As of November 1, 2021, Russia has suspended activities of its delegation to NATO, the NATO military liaison mission, and also the Alliance’s information office in Moscow.
Source: PAP, Reuters
More In Politics MORE...
