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| Gabriel Escobar and Dritan Abazovic |
Montenegro is ready to extend sanctions against Russia to fully support the European Union's foreign policy, Deputy Prime Minister and Prime Minister-designate for Montenegro's new government Dritan Abazovic said in a telephone conversation with US envoy to the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar.
According to a statement from the Montenegrin government, Mr. Abazovic and Mr. Escobar exchanged views on current events in Ukraine and considered it essential that the countries of the Western Balkans show determination in defending the values of civilization and stay together to the end with the allies in the EU and NATO.
"Montenegro is ready to expand the range of sanctions to pursue EU foreign policy to the end. We will monitor the situation with the Russian oligarchs and take all measures in accordance with the law if they come to Montenegro. "In order to maintain the stability and overall security of the country, we are carrying out activities aimed at combating the influences in Montenegro, which previously resulted in the expulsion of a Russian diplomat from the Foreign Ministry," said Deputy Prime Minister Abazovic, according to the announcement.
Abazović razgovarao sa Eskobarom: Pratićemo situaciju sa ruskim oligarsima, spremni da proširimo opseg sankcija
— Vlada Crne Gore (@VladaCG) March 5, 2022
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He also said that Montenegro will send additional humanitarian and financial aid, but also military aid, once the internal processes in the country are completed.
A day earlier, the Montenegrin Foreign Ministry announced that declared 'non grata' a Russian diplomat at the Russian Embassy.
The person in question is Viktor Antipin, a Russian intelligence officer and employee of the Russian Intelligence Service.
Antipin, according to the Montenegrin Security Agency, met with political representatives of the Democratic Front, known as the pro-Russian party.
"The reason for this decision is the assessment of the relevant security bodies in Montenegro for the activities of the Russian diplomat, which are contrary to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations," reads the announcement of the Montenegrin Foreign Ministry.
Montenegro has been the political target of Serbia and Russia in recent years, who staged a coup attempt in the 2016 parliamentary elections to prevent the Balkan country from joining NATO.