Greece to ask 12 Russian diplomats to leave country

Greece will ask 12 Russian diplomats to leave the country, declaring them "personae non-gratae", the foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

The Greek foreign ministry's general secretary has informed the Russian ambassador of the decision. The Russian diplomats were not acting in accordance with international rules, a foreign ministry official said.

"Russia will give an appropriate response," RIA Novosti cited a foreign ministry spokesperson as saying.

Italy, Sweden, Spain and Denmark announced similar moves this week.