Petition addressed to:
European Governments
Russian diplomatic missions are active in all EU states. They enjoy the privileged position accorded to international diplomats, but I believe they abuse this privilege by lying to their host nations, and acting as supine apologists for their leader Vladimir Putin. I listened with extreme dismay to the Russian ambassador to Ireland Yury Filatov trying to justify the unprovoked attack on their sovereign neighbour Ukraine, and I expect similar lies and deceptions were promoted by many of his colleagues across the continent.
The purpose of maintaining diplomatic relations is to foster trust and cooperation. I do not believe that Russia has any interest in doing so - on the contrary, they seek to disseminate falsehoods, promote division, and create fear and uncertainty.
I demand that all EU states, and the EU itself, expel all Russian diplomatic missions. I believe that such an expulsion would send a very strong message to Putin and his associates.
Reason
It is important to me because I was revulsed by the statements made by the Russian Ambassador. It is important to me because I find it unacceptable that a nation can behave the way Russia is behaving, and still enjoy all the benefits of diplomacy.