Russia Expels German Diplomat in Retaliation

MOSCOW: (Web Desk) – Russia on Thursday announced the expulsion of a German diplomat in response to Berlin’s decision last month to remove a Russian official over alleged espionage activities.

In a statement, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said it had formally declared a staff member of the German Embassy in Moscow persona non grata, calling the move a “symmetrical response” to Germany’s earlier action. Moscow strongly rejected Berlin’s espionage allegations, describing them as unfounded and accusing Germany of fueling what it termed a “spy hysteria.”

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In January, German authorities summoned the Russian ambassador and ordered the expulsion of a Russian diplomat suspected of acting as a handler for a woman arrested on spying charges. Russia dismissed the claims at the time as baseless and warned that retaliatory measures would follow.

The latest development underscores continued tensions between Russia and Western countries, which have expelled dozens of alleged Russian intelligence operatives over the past decade. Such actions have frequently led to reciprocal expulsions by Moscow, further straining already fragile diplomatic relations.