Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry has ordered the expulsion of two French diplomats due to "activities incompatible with their diplomatic status." The ministry said in a December 26 statement that it had summoned the French ambassador to express a "strong protest over the actions of two employees of the French Embassy." The two were ordered to leave within 48 hours. There was no immediate reaction from Paris to the move, and it wasn't immediately clear what prompted it, Tensions between the two countries have climbed in recent years, as France has stepped up support for neighboring Armenia, and escalated its criticism of Baku. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service, click here.
Azerbaijan Expels 2 French Diplomats
Two employees of the French Embassy in Baku were ordered to leave the country within 48 hours. (file photo)