Russia expels German diplomat in tit-for-tat move

Russia has declared a staff member of the German embassy in Moscow persona non grata in response to Germany’s expulsion of a Russian diplomat from Berlin.

In a statement released on Thursday, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said the German ambassador’s representative had been summoned and informed of the decision.

The ministry linked the move to a decision by the German government on January 22 to expel an employee of the Russian embassy over alleged espionage activities, accusations Moscow has denied.

“We regard the measures taken by the German side as a cheap provocation aimed at discrediting the Russian diplomatic mission in the Federal Republic of Germany,” the ministry in Moscow said.

It described the step as a “symmetrical response” and said Germany bears “full responsibility for the new escalation in bilateral relations.”

Germany’s Foreign Office had previously summoned the Russian ambassador in Berlin and informed him that a diplomat accredited to the Russian embassy had been declared persona non grata with immediate effect for engaging in espionage in Germany.

According to information from dpa, the diplomat in question is the deputy Russian military attaché.

The Foreign Office said the employee must leave Germany immediately and informed the ambassador that espionage activities in Germany will not be tolerated.