Russia kicks out Swedish diplomat in retaliatory move

Russia’s Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday in a statement that a Swedish diplomat had been kicked out of the country after Sweden did the same to a Russian diplomat.
According to the ministry, the measure is a response to `unfriendly actions by Swedish authorities’ concerning a diplomat of the Russian Embassy in Stockholm.
“It is perplexing that Sweden, having taken such an unfriendly step, is now discussing the negative influence of this incident on Russian-Swedish relations.
“Stockholm has complete responsibility for the consequence of its provocation,’’ the statement said, without naming either diplomat.
Sweden confirmed that a Russian diplomat had been expelled but declined to detail what the diplomat had done.
“I can just say that the person in question had committed activities that were not in line with the Vienna Convention,’’ Swedish Foreign Ministry spokesman, Johan Tegel, told newsmen.
Tegel responded ‘no comment’ when asked whether this was related to possible espionage but said the Russian diplomat was “recently” asked to leave, though he did not specify when.