Two Irish diplomats from the embassy in Moscow have been asked to leave Russia.
The Department of Foreign Affairs says the Irish ambassador was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry this afternoon.
He was told that two diplomats from the embassy have been asked to leave.
In a statement, Foreign Minister Simon Coveney says: "There is no justification for the taking of this measure.
"The staff at the embassy of Ireland in Moscow do not have, nor are engaged in, any duties or functions which are incompatible with their diplomatic status."
The Ambassador of Ireland to the Russian Federation was summoned to the Foreign Ministry in Moscow this afternoon and informed that two diplomats from our Embassy in Moscow have been asked to leave.
Read Minister @simoncoveney's full statement here➡️ https://t.co/VNtJySrIon pic.twitter.com/F3ajmbkm6n— Irish Foreign Ministry (@dfatirl) April 7, 2022
He adds: "This decision to reduce the size of our relatively small embassy in Moscow will significantly reduce our ability to provide services to our citizens in Russia and to maintain diplomatic channels of communication with the Russian Federation."
The statement didn't give reasons for the expulsion.
It follows a similar move by Ireland last month, when four Russian diplomats were told to leave the country.
