NNA - France "strongly condemns" the expulsion of 34 of its diplomats by Russia, the foreign ministry said Wednesday, a tit-for-tat move by Moscow after Paris ordered some Russian staff to leave.

Saying the step had "no legitimate basis", the ministry said in a statement that "the work of the diplomats and staff at (France's) embassy in Russia... takes place fully within the framework of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic and consular relations" -- whereas Paris expelled the Russian staff in April on suspicion of being spies. -- AFP

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