Russia expels German diplomat in tit-for-tat move as it accuses Berlin of ‘spy mania’

Russia has expelled a German diplomat in a tit-for-tat move, escalating tensions between Moscow and Berlin following a similar action taken by Germany last month.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry said on Thursday, February 5, that it summoned the head of the German Embassy in Moscow to lodge a formal protest and inform Berlin that a member of the embassy staff had been declared persona non grata. The decision, Moscow said, was a direct response to Germany’s expulsion of a Russian diplomat over alleged espionage. The ministry rejected Germany’s accusations, describing them as fabricated and politically motivated.

“It was emphasised that the unsubstantiated accusations of espionage brought against him by the official Berlin authorities are completely groundless and fabricated in the spirit of the ‘spy mania’ being whipped up in Germany by the German authorities,” the ministry said.

Germany’s Foreign Minister, Johann Wadephul, criticised the move while speaking during a visit to Brunei, calling Russia’s action unjustified and unacceptable.

“The expulsion of a German diplomat from Russia is completely unfounded and totally unacceptable,” he said, adding that Germany “reserves the right to take further action.”

Wadephul confirmed that the expelled diplomat was part of the German embassy’s military attaché staff in Moscow and accused Russia of responding with escalation rather than diplomacy.

“While our diplomats adhere to the law, Russia relies on escalation and espionage under the guise of diplomacy,” he said.

Moscow, however, described its decision as a “symmetrical response” to Germany’s earlier move on January 22, when Berlin expelled an employee of the Russian embassy over alleged spying. Russian authorities denied the allegation and said Germany bears “full responsibility for the new escalation in bilateral relations.”

Germany’s Foreign Office had previously summoned the Russian ambassador in Berlin and declared a Russian diplomat persona non grata with immediate effect, stating that espionage activities would not be tolerated. According to German media sources, the expelled Russian official was the deputy military attaché.

The dispute comes amid heightened security concerns across Europe, where intelligence agencies have warned of increased Russian espionage and sabotage activities linked to the war in Ukraine. Britain also expelled a Russian diplomat earlier this week in a separate but similar reciprocal action.

Moscow has denied accusations that it is conducting a coordinated espionage or sabotage campaign across Europe.