The Russian Federation has decided to expel an employee of the Georgian Interests Section at the Swiss Embassy in Moscow, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported in its press release today.

The move, according to the Ministry, was made in response to Georgia’s “unfounded” decision to expel an employee of the Russian Interests Section at the Swiss Embassy in Tbilisi over the “so-called Skripal Case.” The official was ordered to leave the country within seven days, it added.

On March 29, the Georgian Foreign Ministry condemned the use of chemical weapons on the territory of the United Kingdom as a “serious challenge to common security,” and decided to expel a staff member of the Russian Interests Section at the Swiss Embassy in Tbilisi.

Switzerland, which has a record of representing other countries in third party nations, opened its Georgian Interests Section on March 5, 2009. Simultaneously, the Russian Interests Section was opened by the Embassy of Switzerland in Tbilisi.