Foreign Minister Julie Bishop is expecting to meet with Russia's ambassador to Australia today and plans to "condemn" Russia over the recent chemical attack on double agent Sergei Skripal, as Australia prepares to kick out two Russian diplomats now accused of working as spies for Moscow.
The two "undeclared intelligence officers" have just seven days to pack their bags and leave the country, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Ms Bishop revealed on Tuesday.
Ms Bishop said she was confident the diplomatic staff were engaged in spying activities.
"I take advice from Australia's security and intelligence agencies and I have great faith in their advice," Ms Bishop told reporters on Wednesday.
Moscow's envoy to Canberra, Grigory Logvinov, confirmed the pair worked in the Russian Embassy in Canberra. He insisted they were career diplomats and had been treated unfairly.
Asked whether the staff worked as spies in the embassy, Mr Logvinov told reporters not to ask "funny questions".
"You see, it’s a joke," he told journalists in the corridors of Parliament House on Tuesday evening.
The Russian ambassador is expected to speak again on Wednesday morning. He is yet to offer detail on what counter-action Russia may take.
"The final decision is with the President [Vladimir Putin]," he told ABC TV.
Australia's diplomatic action mirrors similar steps taken in recent days by the UK, United States and European allies of Britain.
Around the world, more than 100 Russian diplomats have been expelled over the nerve agent attack on former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury - marking the biggest exodus of diplomatic staff since the Cold War.
Ms Bishop said the UK had provided Australia with a compelling case that either Russia was behind the attempted assassination or had lost control of its illegal stockpiles of nerve agent.
"It is not acceptable for a military-grade nerve agent to be deployed in an assassination attempt in the UK," Ms Bishop said.
She pledged to tell the ambassador Australia "condemns the use of illegal weapons any time anywhere, by any country".
Russia has a particular responsibility as a member of the United Nations Security Council to uphold international law, she said.
Mr Logvinov will urge Ms Bishop to "follow the facts" and said he looked forward to exchanging views with her on the issue.
- with AAP
