Russia and Poland expel diplomats
November 17, 2014
Russia announced on Monday that it had expelled Polish diplomats suspected of espionage. Media reports indicate that four diplomats were told to leave Russia within 48 hours on Friday.
The foreign ministry in Moscow said this was in response to Poland's "unfriendly and unwarranted step" of expelling some of its own diplomats from Warsaw.
"In connection with this, the Russian side has undertaken adequate response measures, and a number of Polish diplomats have already left our country because of activities incompatible with their status," Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement, using language that refers to spying in diplomatic circles.
The diplomatic spat comes as foreign ministers from the 28-member European Union meet in Brussels to discuss potential further sanctions against Russia for its role in the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
Over the weekend, Russia and Germany had a similar diplomatic tit-for-tat. Germany expelled a Russian diplomat in Bonn for espionage, only to have a German attaché in Moscow sent home.
mz/kms (Reuters, AFP, AP)