Russia expelled on Friday 18 European Union diplomats in retaliation for Brussels' decision to declare 19 Russians as undesirables earlier this month.
The EU on April 5 had said the 19 Russian diplomats had "engaged in activities contrary to their diplomatic status" and ordered them to leave Belgium.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it had summoned the EU ambassador to Russia, Marcus Enderer, and handed him a note of protest.
"The Russian side said that the EU is responsible for the consistent destruction of the architecture of bilateral dialogue and cooperation that took decades to form," it said.
EU diplomats should leave Russia as soon as possible, the ministry added.
The EU mission to Russia said in a statement that it regretted what it described as anunfounded move.
"The decision of the Russian authorities announced on Friday has no basis and is nothing but a retaliation," it said in a statement on Telegram.
"The course of action Russia has chosen will further increase its international isolation," the EU mission added.
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