German embassy worker expelled from Moscow

"An employee of the German embassy in Moscow has left the country because of a retaliatory measure by the Russian authorities," the source told AFP, confirming a report by the German newsweekly Der Spiegel.

"We regret this unjustified act and we have informed the Russian government of this."

According to Spiegel, the move comes after Berlin expelled a Russian diplomat from the consulate general in the western city of Bonn "in total discretion".

"In similar cases in the past, there was no reaction from the Russians, this time it's different," the weekly wrote, citing a source within the German foreign ministry.