Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Monday that Moscow has expelled two Italian officials from Russia in a tit-for-tat response after Italy’s decision to expel two military attachés from the Russian embassy in Rome for espionage earlier this month.

“The Russian Federation has expelled, without reason, the Italian military attaché in Moscow along with one of his collaborators,” Tajani said via X.

“This is an act of blatant retaliation for the expulsion from Italy of two Russian military attachés, who were caught red-handed while carrying out espionage activities to the detriment of our national security”.

The Italian government ejected the Russian officials who recruited two former Italian intelligence officials recently arrested for allegedly spying for Moscow.