MOSCOW, April 12. /TASS/. Russian diplomats being expelled from Croatia must leave for home by April 25, Russia’s ambassador to Croatia, Andrey Nesterenko, said on the Rossiya-24 round-the-clock television news channel on Tuesday.

"The diplomats must leave by April 25," he said. "This is a heavy blow on the bilateral relations. As you may understand, 24 embassy staffers are a very large group."

Nesterenko said the Croatian leadership had warned in advance that it would take serious measures.

"So it happened. Our colleagues in Moscow are now considering a proper response. Let us wait for their decisions," the ambassador said.