Russia Expels Italian Diplomats in Tit-for-Tat Move

By Reuters and AFP July 21, 2026 The Italian Embassy in Moscow. Kalan (CC BY-SA 3.0) Russia's Foreign Ministry said Monday that it declared two Italian diplomats persona non grata, calling it a reciprocal measure in response to the expulsion of two Russian embassy staff in Italy. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on July 9 that Rome had expelled two military attachés at the Russian embassy in Italy who were allegedly involved in espionage activities. Russia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Vittorio Parrella, the assistant defense attaché at the Italian embassy, and Davide D’Aprile, an attaché, were persona non grata and must leave Russia with their families within three days. The ministry said it had ordered the expulsions "on the basis of reciprocity." It also said it had summoned Italian interim Charge d'Affaires Giovanni Scopa in connection with the expulsion of Russian embassy staff. Tajani criticized the move in a post on X earlier, saying that Rome had expelled the Russian attaches for spying and that Moscow's response was "without cause." Read more about: Italy , Foreign Ministry , Diplomacy Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more North Korea's Top Diplomat to Visit Russia From Sunday North Korea's Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui will visit Russia for a three-day trip from Sunday to Tuesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. 1 Min read Russia and U.S. Delegations Arrive for Embassy Talks in Istanbul A source close to the Russian delegation said the atmosphere was “positive” and that the meeting was expected to last “several hours.” 1 Min read China’s Foreign Minister to Discuss Ukraine War Talks During Visit to Russia Next Week Russia's Foreign Ministry said discussions would cover bilateral relations and high-level contacts, including "at the highest level." 2 Min read Italy Summons Russian Envoy After ‘Verbal Attacks’ on President Italy's Foreign Minister said he had summoned the Russian ambassador after the "umpteenth verbal attack" against Italian President Sergio Mattarella. 1 Min read