Russia expels Swedish diplomat as tit-for-tat move

REUTERS

"I confirm that the Swedish diplomat had to leave Russia," Swedish Foreign Office spokesman Johan Tegel told SVT.

According to the ministry, Russia has not put forward any specific allegations against the diplomat.

The ministry said that the unfriendly step could be considered to be a tit-for-tat move in response to Sweden's expelling a Russian diplomat prior to that.

Tegel said the Russian's activities had not been in accordance the Vienna Convention, a diplomatic code of behavior that regulates the issue of diplomatic immunity and espionage.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs believes that the decision to throw out the Swedish diplomat is groundless. This decision by Russia will not improve relations between our countries," Tegel added.