Russia expels two German diplomats in tit-for-tat measure

Russia announced on Thursday that is was expelling two German diplomats in a tit-for-tat measure connected with the murder of a Georgian citizen in Berlin.

The diplomats, declared personae non gratae, had seven days to leave the country, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Germany last week expelled two Russian diplomats amid allegations that the Russian state was behind the broad daylight shooting on August 23 of a 40-year-old Georgian of Chechen origin in a central Berlin park.

In its statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry said it was expelling the German diplomats in "protest against the groundless decision" by Germany to expel the Russian diplomats.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking at a press conference earlier this week alongside German leader Angela Merkel, described the murder victim as a "bandit" involved in terrorist attacks on civilians.

The Georgian is believed to have fought on the side of Chechen rebels in a rebellion against the Russian state.

The Russian Foreign Ministry in Moscow had summoned the German ambassador just before making the announcement about the retaliatory expulsions.

Ambassador Geza Andreas von Geyr declined to comment to reporters upon leaving the ministry, saying only: "You will find out everything via official channels," state media reported.