WARSAW, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Poland has ordered 45 staff at the Russian embassy in Warsaw to leave the country in less than a week, a spokesperson for the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday.
This represents about half of the total Russian staff at the embassy, and its consular and trade representatives.
Russian ambassador to Poland Sergei Andreev was informed of the decision after being summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"In total, 45 people with varying diplomatic status have been ordered to leave the territory of the Republic of Poland within five days," Ministry spokesman Lukasz Jasina announced. One person will have to leave within 48 hours, he added.
Andreev said there will be consequences for Poland's actions, including the expulsion of Polish diplomats from Russia "on the principle of reciprocity."
He called the expulsions "baseless," adding that all staff members "were carrying out normal diplomatic and trade activity." ■