Russia on Thursday has said that it was expelling five employees of Portugal’s embassy in Moscow in a tit-for-tat move after the expulsion of Russian diplomats from Portugal as part of joint European action over Ukraine.
As per the statement released by the Russian foreign ministry, “It summoned Portugal’s ambassador in Moscow, Madalena Fischer, to express its “strong protest” against the decision to expel ten employees of Russia’s foreign mission in Portugal.
The ministry further added that, “It was noted that this unfriendly step would have a negative impact on Russia-Portuguese relations.”
It said that five employees of the Portuguese embassy in Moscow “have been declared persona non grata” and must leave Russian within 14 days.
A number of European nations have recently expelled Russian diplomats as part of joint action against Moscow’s military operation in Ukraine, with Russia responding in kind.
Moscow on Wednesday kicked out diplomats from France, Italy and Spain, more than 80 in total, in retaliation for the expulsion of Russian diplomats from their nations.