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Romania Orders Tit-For-Tat Expulsion Of Russian Diplomat


Romanian diplomat Gabriel Grecu flanked by FSB officers in Moscow
Romanian diplomat Gabriel Grecu flanked by FSB officers in Moscow
Romania has declared a Russian diplomat persona non grata a day after a Romanian diplomat was ordered by Moscow to leave Russia for spying.

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) on August 16 said it had detained senior Romanian diplomat Gabriel Grecu after he was caught trying to obtain military intelligence.

The FSB, the successor to the Soviet-era KGB, has said the diplomat was caught "red-handed while attempting to obtain secret information."

Romania's Foreign Ministry said in a statement it had informed the Russian side about its decision "to declare a diplomat in the Russian Federation Embassy -- with an equivalent ranking [to Grecu's] -- as persona non grata."

Russia in February expressed concern over U.S. plans to install interceptor missiles in Romania in what Washington says is defense against potential threats from Iran.

compiled from agency reports

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