MOSCOW, April 2 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Foreign Ministry announced Monday that it would expel one Montenegrin diplomat in tit-for-tat retaliation over the incident of former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal.
Earlier in the day, Montenegro's ambassador to Russia Ramiz Basic was summoned to the foreign ministry, where he was given a note of protest for Montenegro's expulsion of a Russian diplomat on March 26 in line with Britain's "groundless accusations" against Russia, the ministry said in a press release.
In response to Montenegro's "unjustified move," the Russian side declared an official of the Embassy of Montenegro persona non grata, it said.
Skripal and his daughter were reportedly exposed to a nerve agent in the British city of Salisbury on March 4. Britain and its allies accused Russia of launching a chemical attack against them, but Moscow has repeatedly denied any involvement.
Western countries expelled a total of more than 100 Russian diplomats in a concerted action, while Russia has so far expelled diplomats of 26 countries in response.
