Media reports in Lithuania say the nation has expelled a high ranking Russian diplomat on suspicion of spying.
The reports quote sources as saying the expulsion was linked to the unnamed envoy's alleged attempts to sway Lithuania's support for Georgia in its ongoing spying dispute with Moscow.
The reports indicate that Moscow intends to retaliate by expelling a Lithuanian envoy. There was no immediate comment from either government.
In 2004, Lithuania expelled the Russian military attaché and two other diplomats for alleged intelligence activities. Russia then expelled Lithuania's military attache and refused the candidate named to succeed him.