Russia declares Lithuanian diplomat persona non grata

Russia declared a Lithuanian official persona non grata - the military attache of the Lithuanian embassy in Russia. "The interim plenipotentiary of Lithuania in the Russian Federation was invited to the Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry today. We informed the plenipotentiary the military attache of the Lithuanian republic in the Russian Federation, Colonel Sigitas Butkus, was declared persona non grata in connection with activities, which caused damage to Russian interests," a message from the ministry ran. The Lithuanian diplomat was given 48 hours to leave the country. The message also said the interim plenipotentiary was informed the Russian government decided not to accredit Colonel R. Zhibasa as the new Lithuanian military attache. Lithuanian Foreign Affairs Minister Antanas Valenis stated Russia's decision was a response to the expulsion of three Russian diplomats from Lithuania in February of the current year. Lithuanian officials claimed Russian diplomats' activities were incompatible with their status, BNS agency reports.