Russia Expels Colombian Diplomats In Tit-for-tat Move
Moscow said Wednesday it declared two Colombian diplomats
"persona non-grata" after two Russians were expelled from its embassy
in Bogota over accusations of spying.
Authorities in the South American nation on Tuesday
said they expelled two Russians in early December over a violation of the
Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, without providing further detail.
Local media said they were involved in intelligence
activities.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Russian foreign
ministry said it summoned Colombian ambassador Alfonso Lopez Caballero, adding
that it was declaring "persona non-grata" two employees of the
Colombian embassy in Moscow.
Moscow called the expulsion of Russian diplomats
from Bogota a "groundless decision", saying this "step does not
correspond to the spirit of traditionally friendly and mutually respectful
relations" between Moscow and Bogota.
Caballero told state news agency RIA Novosti that
the two Colombian diplomats were about to board a plane out of Moscow.
Several European countries -- including Bulgaria,
Austria, the Czech Republic and Norway -- expelled Russian diplomats earlier
this year amid mounting tensions between Russia and the West.
