The Ministry made the announcement after summoning German Ambassador Geza Andreas von Geyr and issuing a formal diplomatic protest over the "groundless" expulsion of Russia's Berlin-based diplomats. However, Germany's Foreign Ministry said the move was "unjustified" and warned that Berlin could yet take "further action" in the escalating row. Moscow's move "sends the wrong signal and is unjustified," said a German Foreign Ministry spokeswoman. The Russian foreign ministry has called Germany's accusations against Moscow "groundless and hostile". Chancellor Angela Merkel has said Germany had acted "because we have not seen Russia supporting us in clearing up this murder".

Source: The Local December 12, 2019 08:48 UTC