Germany expels Russian diplomat in tit-for-tat move

BERLIN, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Germany expelled an employee ofRussia's embassy in Berlin in a tit-for-tat response to Moscow'sexpulsion last week of a German diplomat, the Berlin ForeignOffice said on Monday.

"The Foreign Office today declared 'persona non grata' anemployee of the Russian embassy in Berlin," the ministry said ina statement. "Russia expelled several EU diplomats, includingone at the German embassy. This decision was not justified inany way."

Russia said the diplomats had participated in ademonstration in support of jailed Kremlin critic AlexeiNavalny, but Germany disputed this.

"The German diplomat was merely carrying out his task ofreporting on developments on the spot in a legal fashion," thestatement read.(Reporting by Thomas Escritt; Editing by Tom Sims)