Spying allegations and diplomat expulsion reminiscent of cold war days....
Russia has expelled three Lithuanian diplomats in a tit-for-tat move that underscored growing anger in Moscow at NATO's expansion right up to its borders into the three former Soviet Baltic republics. The Russian foreign ministry said that the three diplomats were being expelled for activities incompatible with their status (a euphemism for spying) and had 48 hours to leave the country.
The Lithuanian charge d'affaires was summoned to the foreign ministry and informed that "three staff of the Lithuanian embassy in Moscow have been declared persona non grata and have two days to leave Russia," a statement said.
As is customary, the foreign ministry did not give the identity of the expelled diplomats, saying merely that their activities had "harmed the interests of Russia."
The former Soviet republic of Lithuania on February 27 announced that it had expelled three Russian diplomats for spying, provoking a diplomatic row with Moscow just weeks before it joined both NATO and the European Union.
Lithuania said on Tuesday it had expected Russia's expulsion of three of its diplomats, and suggested it came in anger at NATO's expansion.
