[1] As a result of the Skripal affair, Simon Coveney informed the ambassador that "the accreditation of a member of his staff with diplomatic status is to be terminated".
[2] The ambassador appeared on Claire Byrne Live and said that Ireland should put its own interests first, not those of another country and also said: "The only thing I know for sure, from the onset of the whole incident on 4 March in Salisbury – the British Government has moved away from dealing with that in a responsible manner.
[4] He said "The most pressing issue facing Russia, Europe and beyond is the threat to Russian national security resulting from the eastward expansion of NATO" and this "is unacceptable behaviour and has to be dealt with".
[6] On 25 February 2022 Mr Filatov was questioned during an interview by David McCullagh on RTÉ News: Six One TV show,[7] which received widespread praise.
[8] On 29 March 2022 Mr Filatov was summoned to the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and told of a decision to expel four senior diplomats from the Russian embassy, not including himself though.