U.S. expels two Russian diplomats
U.S. expels two Russian diplomats (Getty Images)
The United States has declared two Russian diplomats persona non grata, according to the U.S. State Department, BBC News reports.
Russians were expelled from the country in response to Moscow's decision in September to expel two high-ranking U.S. embassy officials. At that time, Russia declared First Secretary Jeffrey Sillin and Second Secretary David Bernstein persona non grata.
The State Department stated that Russians were expelled from the United States in response to a fabricated expulsion of Americans from Moscow. The department added that they would not tolerate persecution of their diplomats by the Russian government.
"The actions of the State Department send a clear signal that unacceptable actions against our embassy staff in Moscow will have consequences," the statement said.
The State Department did not specify who exactly was expelled from the United States.
Expulsion of American diplomats by Russia
The Russian Federation accused two employees of the United States embassy in Moscow of allegedly working with a Russian citizen accused of cooperating with a foreign state.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that First Secretary Jeffrey Sillin and Second Secretary David Bernstein must leave Russia within seven days.
Later, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller stated that the United States would not leave unanswered Russia's decision to expel two American diplomats from the embassy in Moscow.
