MOSCOW, July 12. /TASS/. Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov has declined to comment on the expulsion of Russian diplomats from Greece.

"This matter is within the Foreign Ministry’s competence," he told reporters.

The Greek Kathimerini daily reported earlier, citing diplomatic sources, that Athens had decided to expel two Russian diplomats and ban another two from entering the country. According to the daily, the Greek authorities accuse the diplomats of interfering in the country’s domestic affairs and undermining the national security of Greece. The newspaper says that the diplomats are particularly accused of "attempts to get and disseminate information, as well as bribe state officials." Athens’ decision is said to be "a response to a number of well-coordinated steps aimed at increasing Russia’s influence in Greece." However, the same sources said that Greece "is still willing to maintain good relations with Russia, facilitate friendship between the two countries’ people, as well as cooperation between the two governments.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry, in turn, said that Moscow always took tit-for-tat measures in response to diplomat expulsions from other countries.