US expels two Russian embassy officials
(VOVWORLD) - The United States has expelled two Russian embassy officials after Russia earlier expelled two US diplomats from the American embassy in Moscow, the US State Department said on Friday.
"In response to the Russian Federation's specious expulsion of two US Embassy Moscow diplomats, the State Department reciprocated by declaring persona non grata two Russian Embassy officials operating in the United States," a State Department spokesman said.
 Russian national flag outside the Russian General Consulate in Manhattan, New York (Photo: Reuters) |
Russia's RIA news agency quoted an unnamed source in the Russian foreign ministry as confirming the expulsion, calling t groundless and saying Washington had used Moscow's Sept. 14 expulsion of two U.S. diplomats "caught red-handed engaging in spying activities" as a pretext.
Russia said on Sept. 14 that it was expelling two U.S. diplomats whom it accused of working with a Russian national charged with collaborating with a foreign state.