Russian Embassy in Greece “Receives Threats Against Staff”

Russia’s embassy in Athens, Greece denounced late on Saturday the threats members of its mission have received following the death of at least 10 ethnic Greeks in Mariupol.

In an unusual announcement through Twitter, the Embassy says: “Regarding the threats we receive against the staff of the Embassy, these are cowardly and unacceptable, while the responsibility for the security of our Mission lies with the Greek Authorities with which we cooperate.”

Σε ότι αφορά τις απειλές που δεχόμαστε κατά του προσωπικού της Πρεσβείας, αυτές είναι δειλές και απαράδεκτες, ενώ την ευθύνη για την ασφάλεια της Αποστολής μας έχουν οι Ελληνικές Αρχές με τις οποίες συνεργαζόμαστε https://t.co/Lp4W60tMGJ

— Rus Embassy, Greece (@RFEmbassyGr) February 26, 2022

The announcement did not specify the nature of threats nor did it provides more details.

Embassy says Russia not responsible for the killing of ethnic Greeks

Earlier on Saturday, the Russian Embassy claimed that the deaths of the 10 Greeks near Mariupol are not related to Russian military advances in southern Ukraine.

It expressed its deep grief over the death and injury of Greek community members in the region of Donbas on Saturday, adding that “Russia’s special military operations in Ukraine only target military units and infrastructure exclusively.”

“We do not bomb inhabited areas and villages, nor any political or social infrastructure. The Russian Air and Space Forces were not operating in the region of the Sartana village today,” it said in a statement.

It added, “the Ukrainian army and nationalist neo-Nazi orders have been known for years to attack civilians, even with heavy weapons. This is proven and officially documented.”

The embassy warned that “the Kyiv regime is possibly using the Greek and other ethnic minorities living in Ukraine to provoke and inflame the anti-Russian reaction abroad.”

Police in Greece tighten security in diplomatic missions

Greek police have tightened security measures in the aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in particular to “targets” that are mainly related to Ukraine and Russia in Athens, such as embassies, residences of diplomats, and large companies based in the Greek capital.