Overview
- Russia’s Foreign Ministry summoned the head of Germany’s mission in Moscow and declared a German Embassy staffer persona non grata.
- Moscow said the decision directly responds to Germany’s January 22 removal of a Russian diplomat following a spying investigation.
- German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul condemned the expulsion as unfounded and said Berlin reserves the right to act further.
- Wadephul identified the expelled German as a member of the embassy’s military attache staff, while Russia dismissed Berlin’s espionage claims as “spy mania.”
- Britain also expelled a Russian diplomat this week in a reciprocal move, as European security services warn of heightened Russian intelligence activity.