“The messages from 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 their Twitter account.

Canadian outlet CTV News reported late on Thursday that four Russian embassy staff members had been expelled from Canada over accusations of espionage in connection with a military intelligence leak.

The news came days after a Canadian naval intelligence officer was charged with passing secrets to a foreign government, reportedly Russia.