Russia to suspend NATO mission and shutter the alliance’s information office in Moscow

Moscow will suspend the work of its permanent mission to NATO in November, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Monday, October 18. 

“In response to NATO’s actions, we are suspending the work of our permanent mission to NATO, including the work of the chief military representative, probably from November 1, or perhaps it will take a few more days,” Lavrov said during a briefing.

According to the Russian foreign minister, Moscow is taking retaliatory measures in response to the alliance’s decision to expel members of the Russian mission. NATO halved the size of Russia’s mission to the alliance in early October and stripped eight members of their accreditation, claiming they were “undeclared Russian intelligence officers.”

“If NATO members have any urgent matters, they can turn to our ambassador to Belgium,” Lavrov said on Monday. NATO’s information office in Moscow will also be shuttered, he added.