Russia has expelled 59 diplomats from 23 countries, including Australia, and said it reserved the right to take action against four other nations in a worsening stand-off with the West over the poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter in Britain.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has called the expulsion of two Australian diplomats from Russia "disappointing, although not unexpected".
He has defended the federal government's decision to order two Russian diplomats working as undeclared intelligence officers to leave the country, calling it and similar decisions taken by 28 other nations "an unprecedented demonstration of global solidarity with the United Kingdom".
In a statement, Mr Turnbull says there is no justification for Moscow to take such action.
He has demanded the Russian government explain how the military-grade nerve agent was used in the UK, and clarify why its chemical weapons program has not been declared in line with legal obligations.
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