Two Russian diplomats have left the country after being given marching orders from the Australian government in a show of solidarity over the poisoning of a former spy in the United Kingdom, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has confirmed.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop last week gave two diplomats at the Russian Embassy in Canberra seven days to leave, accusing them of conducting espionage as "undeclared intelligence officers".
Ms Bishop confirmed the two Russians had complied with the deadline and left Australia.
"The staff of the Russian Embassy in Australia who were given seven days to leave, following expulsion, have complied with the deadline and have already left the country," the foreign minister said in a written statement to SBS News.
The Daily Telegraph ran photographs of two individuals departing Canberra Airport on Sunday night, which it claims were the two alleged spies.
A Russian Embassy staff member told SBS News it would not comment on the reports.
Asked to clarify if the two diplomats had left the country, the embassy spokesman refused to confirm or deny.
The move was part of a coordinated expulsion of more than 100 Russian diplomats by allies of Britain around the world, including the United States and a number of European nations.
It was in retaliation for the poisoning of former spy Sergei Skripal with a nerve agent in Britain, which accused Russia of an attempted assassination.
