Russia announced on Friday that a Swedish diplomat will be deported from the country.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms the information for SVT.
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs can confirm that Russia has decided to expel a Swedish diplomat, says Linn Duvhammar, press communicator at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The decision was made after the diplomat, according to Russia, took part in a demonstration for opposition politician Alexei Navalny in St. Petersburg on January 23 this year.
According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, such actions are considered "unacceptable".
"Completely unfounded"
The Foreign Ministry denies the allegations and denies that the diplomat participated in any demonstration.
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs considers this to be completely unfounded, which we have also presented to the Russian side.
We strongly reject the allegations that the diplomat has participated in a demonstration in Russia, says Linn Duvhammar.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the diplomat must have observed a demonstration within the framework of his performance of duties.
- The diplomat has observed the demonstration, it is part of the diplomats' core task to be present and follow the political development in the host country, says Mats Samuelsson at the Foreign Ministry's press office.
"Appropriate response measure"
A Polish and a German diplomat will also be deported from Russia, the country's foreign ministry said.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is otherwise silent about the incident, has no further information about which demonstration the Swedish diplomat must have participated in or how quickly he must leave the country.
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs regrets the Russian actions and reserves the right to take appropriate response, says Linn Duvhammar.
Sweden's Foreign Minister Ann Linde writes on Twitter that she "deeply regrets" the decision and that the accusations are "baseless".
She further states that she has spoken to the diplomat in question and thanked him "for his important work, including promoting human-to-human contacts".
She also writes that Sweden reserves the right to act towards Russia.
Condemned by the EU
EU Foreign Minister Josep Borrell, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and France's Emanuel Macron have all condemned Russia's actions, reports TT.
The Polish Foreign Ministry expresses hopes that Moscow will withdraw the deportation decision.