Russia expels Georgian diplomat

An employee of the Georgian interests section at the Swiss Embassy in Moscow was declared an "unacceptable person" after a similar decision by Tbilisi; the diplomat is obliged to leave Russia within seven days, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has stated today.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on March 29, Georgia demanded from one out of ten employees of the section of Russia's interests at the Swiss Embassy to leave the country. Georgian authorities explained the decision to deport one Russian diplomat as a manifestation of solidarity with Great Britain.

In its turn, Russia has demanded today that one of the employees of the section of Georgia's interests should leave the country. The corresponding note was presented to Patrick Franzen, the Swiss temporary charge d'affaires in Russia, the Russia's MFA has stated.

The decision was a response to the Georgia's similar action, said the Russia's MFA, treating the decision as "unreasonable."

Let us remind you that Georgian-Russian diplomatic relations were interrupted in August 2008 after Moscow had recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Since 2009, Switzerland is acting as an intermediary between Georgia and Russia. In Tbilisi, there is a section of interests of the Russian Federation under the Swiss Embassy. A similar section, but in the interests of Georgia, was opened in Moscow, the RIA "Novosti" reports.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.