UPDATE – Russia expels 27 Spanish diplomats in tit-for-tat move

UPDATES WITH SPAIN’S RESPONSE, CHANGES SPOT, EDITS THROUGHOUT

By Elena Teslova and Alyssa McMurtry

MOSCOW / OVIEDO, Spain (AA) – Tensions are rising between Madrid and Moscow after Russia declared 27 Spanish diplomats persona non grata on Wednesday.

The step was taken in response to the expulsion of 27 Russian diplomats from Spain in April, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Spain, as a response, said it strongly rejected Russia’s move.

“Russian authorities justify their decision on the basis of reciprocity,” said the Foreign Ministry statement. “However, the decision made by Spanish authorities (to expel Russian diplomats) was based on well-justified security concerns, which was not the case (for Russia).”

The Russian ministry said it summoned Ambassador Marcos Gomez Martinez to lodge a “decisive protest” and handed him a note ordering the diplomats to leave the country.

Martinez was told that Madrid’s “unfriendly step will negatively affect Russian-Spanish relations,” according to the statement.

The expelled diplomats were working at the Spanish Embassy in Moscow and Consulate General in St. Petersburg.

Spain’s ministry insisted that they “always respected” their diplomatic obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

The diplomats have to leave Russia within seven days, the Russian ministry said.