Russia has expelled a German diplomat, retaliating against Berlin for what it calls the “groundless” removal of a Russian envoy last month. The Russian Foreign Ministry summoned the head of the German Embassy in Moscow to issue a formal protest, accusing Germany of whipping up a “spy mania”.
Moscow vehemently denied Germany’s accusation that the expelled Russian diplomat had been involved in espionage, labelling it “false” and “a low-level provocation”. A ministry statement said the charges were “completely groundless and fabricated in the spirit of the ‘spy mania’ being whipped up in Germany by the German authorities”.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, speaking during a trip to Brunei, criticised Moscow for resorting to “unjustified retaliatory measures instead of diplomacy”. He called the expulsion “completely unfounded and totally unacceptable”, adding that Berlin reserved the right to take further action. Wadephul confirmed the expelled diplomat was a member of the German Embassy’s military attache staff.
The diplomatic row comes amid heightened tensions between Russia and Western nations over intelligence activities. On Monday, Britain expelled a Russian diplomat in a reciprocal move after Moscow expelled a British diplomat, accusing them of being an undeclared spy. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office summoned Russian ambassador Andrey Kelin, describing Russia’s decision as “unprovoked and unjustified” and accusing Moscow of attempting to “deter our support for Ukraine”.
