Russia said on Thursday that a Slovak military diplomat declared persona non grata must leave Moscow within two days, the Russian state-run RIA news agency reported, citing foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova.

The move was a response to the Slovak authorities' expulsion of a Russian diplomat on November 22, Zakharova said.

Slovakia announced on December 5 that the country expelled the diplomat after information from the country's military intelligence showed that he was engaged in espionage activities.

(Top image, file photo: Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova. /VCG Photo)