Moscow has promised to respond in kind after Berlin accused one of its diplomats of espionage and ordered the individual to leave
Berlin has ousted a Russian diplomat due to alleged spying activities, leading Moscow to commit to an “appropriate” reaction to the unfriendly action.
The German Foreign Ministry declared the action on Thursday, noting it called in the Russian envoy regarding the matter. Though the ministry provided no further details, German media reported that a deputy Russian military attaché was the diplomat involved and that the individual was instructed to depart the country within 72 hours.
“We do not tolerate espionage in Germany – especially not under the guise of diplomatic status. We called the Russian Ambassador to the Federal Foreign Office today and informed him that the person who conducted espionage on Russia’s behalf is to be expelled,” the ministry said in a statement.
Moscow has pledged to retaliate for the expulsion without specifying the nature of the potential action. Typically, Russia chooses a reciprocal response, expelling the same number of diplomatic staff as the foreign country that initiated the hostile step.
“Russia will deliver an appropriate response,” the ministry told RIA Novosti.
Earlier this month, Moscow expelled a British diplomatic employee who was accused by the Federal Security Service (FSB) of working for UK intelligence. At that time, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a formal protest to the UK and required the suspected spy to leave the country within two weeks.
Russia has maintained tense relations with many Western countries in recent years, characterized by multiple spy scandals and mutual expulsions of diplomatic personnel. The latest incident between Moscow and Berlin occurs days after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz indicated a departure from his long-held stance of rejecting any dialogue with Russia. In what appears to be a change of position, Merz advocated for renewed diplomatic interaction with Moscow, suggesting the EU should “rebalance its relationship with our largest European neighbor.”