Russia expels western diplomats over ex-spy dispute

Russia on Friday, expelled four German diplomats in retaliation for their decision to expel Russian diplomats over agent attack on an ex-spy in the United Kingdom.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry said on Friday that it was summoning ambassadors from Western countries who had taken ‘unfriendly’ steps.

Diplomats from various countries like Germany, Italy, Finland and others have also been expelled, foreign ministries reported.

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"This decision by Moscow is not a surprise," said Heiko Maas, Minister of Foreign Affairs Germany. 

Russia also summoned representatives of the French, Croatia, Belgium, the Netherlands, Czech Republic and Ukraine foreign ministries.

Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry had declared 58 US diplomats in Moscow and two consulate officers as persona non-grata and said the consulate should suspend work within two days.

The US diplomats should leave Russia by April 5, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.