Europeans Coordinate Expulsion of Russians Over Navalny Spat

(Bloomberg) -- Germany, Sweden and Poland expelled Russian embassy employees in retaliation over similar moves by the Kremlin amid tensions surrounding the jailing of opposition leader Alexey Navalny.

Russia’s action against a German diplomat in Moscow was unjustified because the employee was undertaking legally-protected information gathering, Germany’s foreign ministry Monday in an emailed statement.

“This is a clear response to the unacceptable decision to expel a Swedish diplomat who was only preforming his duties,” Sweden’s Foreign Minister Ann Linde said on Twitter.

Poland’s foreign ministry said its expulsion of a Russian diplomat in Poznan was in accordance with the principle of reciprocity and in coordination with Germany and Sweden.

The Russian Foreign Ministry called the moves unjustified and unfriendly, according to state-run news agency Tass.

Moscow last week expelled several European diplomats, claiming they were participating in pro-Navalny protests.

Read More: Russia Expels Envoys Over Navalny Protests Hours After EU Talks

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