Italy Expels Russian Diplomats Over Spying Allegations

ROME—Italy expelled two Russian diplomats suspected of spying Wednesday, the most recent in a spate of incidents involving suspected Russian espionage in Europe.

Italian authorities explained a Russian diplomat, who performs in the office environment of the military attaché at the Russian embassy in Rome, was caught receiving labeled documents from an Italian Navy officer in exchange for a sum of revenue.

The naval officer was arrested and accused of “serious crimes relative to spying and countrywide protection,” the Italian law enforcement explained with no specifying the specific fees. The Russian diplomat was quickly detained whilst Italian authorities assessed his diplomatic position.

The second Russian formal expelled was the immediate outstanding of the formal who allegedly obtained the labeled documents.

The incident is the most recent in a sequence of spying accusations involving Russian nationals or those allegedly functioning for them in Europe. It comes as the romantic relationship between Moscow and the West worsens next the jailing of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, a transfer that observed the European Union sanction senior Russian officials.