Russia expels Czech deputy ambassador to Moscow

Russia on Wednesday expelled the Czech Republic’s deputy ambassador to Moscow. The diplomat has until Saturday to leave the country. Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Lenka Do said that the move came in response to the expulsion of Russia’s deputy ambassador from the Czech Republic last month.

Ms. Do said Moscow’s reaction had not been proportionate as the Prague Russian Embassy employee expelled in March had demonstrably used diplomatic cover to operate for the Russian intelligence services.

Last year the Czech government expelled Russian Embassy staff following revelations Russian agents had been behind a deadly operation on Czech territory in 2014, sparking tit-for-tat reprisals.