Andrey Vasilevsky. Not an eye

Not an eye - for an eye?
Andrey Vasilevsky

Publication date: March 11, 2004

As you know, on February 20, Lithuania expelled two embassy employees and one employee of the Russian trade mission from the country. Both sides publicly confirmed this only on the 27th. The diplomats "were asked to leave the country for activities that allegedly do not correspond to their status, without presenting any complaints. However, according to official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Alexander Yakovenko, the Russian side reserves the right to take adequate retaliatory steps (...) " .

“It’s not so easy to remember the last time three Russian diplomats were expelled from any country at once. And even more so from the countries of the Eastern European region ,” we read on one of the Lithuanian Russian -language websites . “ The exchange of “expulsions” of diplomats is a familiar language in which states spoke during the Cold War, especially the superpowers. But today seems to be a different time. (...) There are different means to combat intelligence officers. This extreme form of action is not always chosen, it is too eloquent, not to say provocative. If three diplomats are expelled at once, then those expelling cannot help but think about the corresponding actions of the other side. And, obviously, knowing the laws of international diplomacy, they assumed about them . "

Collecting confidential information is the professional responsibility of both diplomats and intelligence officers; the line here is very thin. Intelligence is an integral element of the modern world order and, let us admit, not its worst element. In short, it doesn't matter why they were expelled. In any case, there must be an answer. Clear, public, fast. “Of course, the measures taken by the Lithuanian side will not go unnoticed and responded to, but this should not overshadow generally good Russian-Lithuanian relations , ” said First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Eleonora Mitrofanova. And she especially emphasized: “If we act on the principle of “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth,” this will not make our common future easier . ”

Don't worry: it will just make it easier ! In general, this Old Testament maxim is too often misunderstood, namely as a call for revenge. So in a discussion about modern “fascism” (“NG Ex libris”, 2004, # 9, March 11), music critic Andrei Gorokhov says: “Who was the first famous anti-fascist who laid the foundation of Western European civilization? The one who broke the blood covenant revenge "an eye for an eye", saying "turn the other cheek" and "don't judge"..." Without getting involved in the dispute about the "anti-fascism" of Jesus Christ, I will note: again " "a covenant ... of revenge . Yes, this is exactly how all this may look through the prism of the New Testament, but in its historical context, “an eye for an eye” is a thesis that does not unleash the element of retribution, but, on the contrary, limits it. It is precisely directed against total archaic revenge, against lawlessness , to put it simply. Retribution is necessary, but it must be adequate and fair: “an eye for an eye” - and no more .

In our case, this means that the expulsion of three diplomats should not be responded to by the expulsion of four. Three for three. This is normal, this is common practice. To express Russian disinterest in further escalation of the conflict, it is enough to expel two in response to three. As a very friendly gesture - one in response to three. But not one?! The Christian “turn the other cheek” is addressed to the individual, to the Christian (and not to the state), and means the individual overcoming by the Christian (and not the government department) the natural feeling of revenge towards a personal enemy. There is no such thing as “Christian” diplomacy. Such a public victory of New Testament ethics over the Old Testament - in the sphere of interstate relations - would be too sad.

It is possible, however, that Russia has actually received/will receive compensation for the expulsion of diplomats, but secretly, which for various reasons both sides do not want to advertise. Isn’t this why Eleonora Mitrofanova just visited Lithuania? “I think we will take adequate action in response , ” she told reporters in Vilnius after a meeting with Prime Minister Algirdas Brazauskas, noting, however, that Moscow has not yet made a decision on how many Lithuanian diplomats will be expelled. The deputy minister also said that she does not know when this might happen.

“It’s never too late to take adequate measures , is sure . ” E. Mitrofanova

Uh... don't tell me...