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Georgia Expels Russian Diplomat Over Spy Poisoning

by Associated Press

   MOSCOW --

   The former Soviet republic of Georgia says it will expel a Russia
   diplomat in solidarity with Britain over the nerve agent poisoning of a
   former Russian spy.

   Thursday's announcement follows the expulsion of more than 150 Russian
   diplomats by European Union nations, the United States, NATO and other
   countries in response to the March 4 poisoning of Sergei Skripal and
   his daughter.

   Georgia severed diplomatic ties with Russia following a brief war in
   the breakaway republic of South Ossetia. Russian diplomats have been
   operating out of the special interests section of the Swiss embassy in
   the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, since 2009.

   Georgia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday that the
   diplomat has been declared persona non grata and must leave within a
   week. The ministry condemned the poisoning, calling it a "serious
   challenge to common security."