NEWSWATCH: “Russia and the U.S. can replace expelled diplomats” – CNN/Laura Koran

April 4, 2018 JRL Russia List JRL NewsBlog, Spies, Spy Allegations, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations

File Photo of U.S. Embassy Moscow, with Russian Foreign Ministry Building in Distance

“The State Department confirmed the United States and Russia can replace diplomats in each other’s countries who were expelled … standard practice … [when] targeted personnel are ejected as ‘persona non-grata’ … any new diplomats would be subject to approval on a ‘case-by-case basis.’ ‘As always/As with similar incidents in the past, the Russian government remains free to request accreditation for vacant positions in its bilateral mission’ … ‘The Russian Federation has not informed us that it intends to reduce the total number of personnel allowed in our bilateral Mission’ … ‘We therefore understand that the United States may request new diplomatic personnel to fill the positions of diplomats who have been expelled.’ …”