ATHENS, July 11. /TASS/. The Greek government will not tolerate disrespect for international law and the Greek state, Greek Cabinet Spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos said on Wednesday commenting on reports concerning the Greek authorities’ decision to expel two Russian diplomats and ban two others from entering the country.
"The Greek state wishes [to have] good relations with all states. However, it is impossible to agree with the behavior, which does not respect international law and the Greek state," he told the Skai Greek TV channel answering a question on the issue.
"Our assessment is that such behavior took place, and all [necessary] measures will be taken," Tzanakopoulos said without providing any additional information.
The Greek Kathimerini daily earlier reported citing diplomatic sources that Athens had decided to expel two Russian diplomats and ban two others from entering the country. According to the paper, the Greek authorities accuse the diplomats of meddling in the country’s domestic affairs and undermining the national security of Greece. The newspaper says that the diplomats are accused, in particular, of attempts to get and disseminate information and bribe state officials. Athens’ decision is said to be a response to a number of well-coordinated steps aimed at expanding Russia’s influence in Greece.
Meanwhile, a Russian Foreign Ministry official told reporters on Wednesday that Moscow always took tit-for-tat steps in response to diplomats’ expulsion. "Diplomats’ expulsion is followed by tit-for-tat measures," the official said answering a question on the expulsion of Russian diplomats from Greece.