The Foreign Ministry has denied reports that four staff members from the Russian Embassy in Ottawa had been expelled by Canada for spying.

"The messages from the Canadian press regarding the expulsion of Russian diplomats from Canada are surprising, since they left the country in 2011 upon concluding their stints," the Foreign Ministry said on its Twitter account Friday.

Canada's CTV News reported late Thursday that four Russian Embassy staff members had been expelled over espionage accusations in connection with a military intelligence leak. The news came after a Canadian intelligence officer was charged with passing secrets to a foreign government, reportedly Russia.

(MT)