Russia declares two German diplomats persona non grata as Germany expels two Russians over murder of Georgian Khangoshvili

Russia has declared two employees of the German embassy in Russia as persona non grata and summoned the German ambassador as a response to the expulsion of two Russian diplomats from Germany over the murder of Georgian citizen of Chechen origin Zelimkhan Khangoshvili in Berlin in the summer. 

The information has been released by the Russian Foreign Ministry. 

Germany is pointing at possible involvement of either Russian of Chechen authorities in the case. 

Khangoshvili, 40, who was shot dead in the Kleiner Tiergarten Park, Berlin, on August 23, was a field commander during the second Chechen War (1999-2009), which is why he was wanted and continuously persecuted by Russia.

Russian President Vladimer Putin has stated that Khangoshvili was a terrorist.