MOSCOW - The Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday that it will expel a diplomatic staff member from the Estonian embassy in Moscow.

The ministry summoned Charge d'Affaires of Estonia in Russia Jana Vanamolder and expressed strong protest over announcing a Russian diplomat in Tallinn "persona non grata" on March 19 "without any grounds," it said in a statement.

"The Estonian side has been informed that its hostile activities will always receive a proper response," the statement said.