Expelled Russian diplomats leave Georgia
Three Russian diplomats expelled from Georgia for allegedly supporting local opposition rallies, have left the country, Georgian television said Monday.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry declared the three diplomats personae non gratae November 7, citing local police video and phone tapping evidence, which allegedly showed Georgian opposition leaders coordinating their coup attempt with the Russian diplomats.
Georgian opposition protests last week demanded the president`s resignation and earlier parliamentary elections. The demonstrations lasted six days until a brutal crack down by police. President Mikhail Saakashvili declared a state of emergency in the country and said Thursday he would call early presidential elections on January 5.
In response to the Russian diplomats` expulsion, Moscow said it would expel three Georgian diplomats in a retaliatory move. A spokesman for the Georgian Embassy in Moscow said they were still in the Russian capital.
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