Diplomats accused in espionage case involving LM Ericsson

Two Russian diplomats have been expelled from Sweden in connection with an espionage case involving wireless equipment maker LM Ericsson, the foreign ministry said Monday. The announcement came after the Russian ambassador was summoned to the foreign ministry Monday morning. “We have today asked the Russian ambassador to come to the ministry and two of the embassy’s employees have been declared persona non grata and they have left the country,” ministry spokeswoman Kristina Ostergren said. “It has a connection to the Ericsson case.” Ostergren said the two worked at the Russian Embassy in Stockholm and had diplomatic status, but she declined to provide details. The Russian Foreign Ministry criticized the decision and threatened to retaliate.National security police detained three people, employees or former employees of Ericsson, on Nov. 5 after one was allegedly caught providing secret company material to a foreign agent. The other two were accused of helping gather material, authorities said. The three men were ordered held on suspicion of industrial espionage, but one may also face the more serious charge of espionage.