Moscow reacts to envoy’s expulsion

MOSCOW – Russia has vowed to take “necessary measures” in response to the expulsion of its top envoy in Ukraine’s Odesa region. In a July 17 statement, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) declared Moscow’s Consulate General in Odesa “persona non grata” for conducting unnamed activities “incompatible” with his diplomatic work. The SBU said career diplomat Valery Shibeko had already left Ukraine. According to Interfax, Mr. Shibeko returned to Russia on July 15. Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Grigory Karasin told Interfax on July 17 that “Russia will take the necessary measures in response.” The Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement on its website: “We regard the actions taken by the Ukrainian authorities as another unfriendly step aimed at artificially fueling tensions in bilateral relations.” (RFE/RL, based on reporting by Agence France-Presse and Interfax)