Russia expelled Swedish diplomat

Russia has declared a senior official at the Swedish embassy in Moscow persona non grata. No specific charges were brought against him.

According to a spokesman for the Swedish Foreign Ministry, Russia decided to expel the diplomat in response to a similar measure against a Russian who was recently declared undesirable in Sweden. The Swedes suspected the exiled Russian diplomat of violating the Vienna Convention .

“This will not have the best effect on relations between countries,” the Swedish Foreign Ministry said.

SVT

• In 2002, Sweden expelled two Russian diplomats. In 2006, Russia declared a Swedish diplomat persona non grata. As a rule, such actions are mutual.