Russia expels two US diplomats for 'illegal' activity

Russia said that it was expelling two US diplomats whom it accused of working with a Russian national charged with collaborating with a foreign state. The Foreign Ministry said in a statement it had summoned US envoy Lynne Tracy and told her that embassy First Secretary Jeffrey Sillin and Second Secretary David Bernstein must leave Russia within seven days. 

The Russian statement said that the named



officials conducted illegal activity in maintaining contact with Russian citizen R. Shonov, accused of confidential cooperation with a foreign state.                          

The US State Department said the expulsion of the two diplomats was unprovoked and warned that Washington would respond appropriately.