A Romanian diplomat, threatened and beaten in Russia. Hurezeanu: “It happened in May, he left Russia, he is in Brussels.”
Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), photo: – / Sputnik / Profimedia
A Romanian diplomat working for the EU has been brutally attacked during a business trip to Russia, the German publication der Spiegel revealed in an article published on Tuesday. On Wednesday, in a press conference in the Government, the Romanian Foreign Minister Emil Hurezeanu confirmed the incident.
“I knew from the head of the place what happened. The incident was informed of us know the identity of the diplomat. He is the employee of the EU's external diplomacy service. It happened at the end of May, he left Russia, is in perfect safety and in full health in Brussels, following the specialized services of the EU, including the investigations. declared Hurezeanu.
According to EU diplomatic sources quoted by Spiegel, the EU employee wanted to take a walk in Vladivostok around 7 in the morning, on May 26. After leaving the hotel, a car stopped next to her and two men went down, threatened her and beat her.
Diplomatic sources say that it is not known with certainty if the attackers were employees of the Russian Internal Intelligence Service (FSB), but there are strong suspicions. Western diplomats are repeatedly monitored, filmed and watched while traveling by FSB agents. This was the case in Vladivostok.
The physical aggression of a diplomat from a western country is a escalation. The members of the diplomatic missions enjoy special protection in their host countries, under the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations. This is also true for Russian diplomats present in the EU.
Asked by Spiegel a spokesman for the European Commission simply said that he condemns any violence against EU diplomats. “I convened the representative of Russia in Belgium for clarifications.” The safety of the staff is primordial and “we will continue to revise the protection of our diplomatic staff”.
European embassies in Russia, subjected to a wave of challenges
After the beginning of the Ukraine war, EU embassies were subjected to numerous or challenges. Russian propaganda posters, such as the bus station in front of the France Embassy last spring, were hanging. He depicted French President Emmanuel Macron as a waiter who serves weapons on a tray to Ukrainian president Volodimir Zelenski.
At the beginning of 2024, in front of the Swedish Embassy were placed banners that “informed” about the alleged Swedish Russophobia.
In addition, rallies are repeatedly taking place in the face of diplomatic missions, often organized by Ultra-Patriot and supporters of Putin who, unlike the critics of the Russian leadership, are allowed to gather in the Capital.
