OUR Russia announced today that it will close the Swedish consulate in St. Petersburg and its own diplomatic mission in the second largest city from September 1 SwedenGothenburg, expelling five Swedish diplomats in retaliation after Stockholm expelled five Russians last month.

Stockholm announced last month that it had expelled diplomats over fears of espionage. The Russian Foreign Ministry called the expulsion “an openly hostile step.”

Swedish Ambassador Malena Mard was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry today to get acquainted with this decision, the Russian diplomacy said in a statement.

“The Russian side, in response, decided to declare five Swedish diplomats, including three subordinates of the Chargé d’Affaires of the Swedish Embassy in Moscow, “persona non grata” (undesirable persons),” the report says.

“Russophobic campaign” in Sweden

“These actions by the Swedish authorities simply worsen the state of bilateral relations, which have deteriorated to an unprecedented level, mainly due to the ongoing Russophobic campaign in Sweden,” Russian diplomacy said today.

Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Bilström expressed regret in a statement and said the news was “another confirmation of the negative political developments in Russia and the country’s international isolation.”

“Russia has decided to expel Swedish diplomats who acted within the framework of the Vienna Convention and carried out normal diplomatic activities in Russia. We also deeply regret Russia’s announcement of a Consulate General in St. Petersburg.

Relations between the two countries soured after Sweden announced its intention to join NATO last year following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

^{Source: APE-MEB, Reuters, AFP.}