Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry to expel German diplomats in ‘reciprocal’ response to ‘Berlin’s hostile actions’

Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has decided to “reciprocate” Germany’s expulsion of Russian diplomats, which the agency called “Berlin’s hostile actions.” The agency also reports that it intends to reduce the maximum number of employees at German diplomatic missions in Russia.

Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry spokeperson Maria Zakharova says that the German authorities expelled more than 20 Russian diplomats. German newspaper Bild writes that the Russian authorities intend to expel 34 of around 90 German diplomats currently working in Moscow.

In late March, publication Focus reported that Germany was planning to expel more than 30 Russian diplomats, who were suspected of recruiting German informants.