Moscow confirms expulsion of Swedish diplomat was tit-for-tat move

Russia has declared a Swedish Embassy employee in Moscow ‘persona non grata’ in response to Sweden’s unfriendly acts against a Russian diplomat in Stockholm, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

"A diplomat of the Swedish Embassy in Moscow was declared persona non grata the other day," the ministry said.
"This step was taken in response to the Swedish authorities’ unfriendly acts against a diplomat of the Russian Embassy in Stockholm," the ministry said.

"What causes bewilderment is that the Swedish side, which has carried through this unfriendly act, now talks about the negative impact of what has happened on the Russian-Swedish relations," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

"The responsibility for the consequences of this provocation is fully borne by Stockholm," the ministry said.

The Swedish Foreign Ministry confirmed on Monday that its diplomat had been expelled from Russia. Swedish Foreign Ministry spokesman Johan Tegel said this "will affect the relations between the two countries."