Replacement of Greek Envoy to Moscow Not Unfriendly Move Against Russia – Source

ATHENS (Sputnik) - Forthcoming replacement of the Greek ambassador to Moscow is not an unfriendly move against Russia and is not related to the tensions in bilateral relations, a source in the Greek Foreign Ministry told Sputnik.

"The ambassador to Russia is not being recalled. There are plans to replace him … If the ambassador was recalled, the Foreign Ministry would have already issued a corresponding note and the ambassador would have already left," the source said.

The source explained that the leakage of an internal document coincided with the ministry's statement on relations with Russia, but was not related to it.

"It was a letter for internal use, for a very limited number of people. The Greek Foreign Ministry did not expect its leakage," source said.

READ MORE: Greek Opposition Party Urges Government to Provide Info on Relations With Russia

He noted that the decision to replace the ambassador to Russia had not been approved yet, a working meeting to review the minister's proposals on ambassadors would be possibly held in September.

On August 10, Greek government sources told Sputnik that Athens had decided to recall Ambassador to Moscow Andreas Fryganas. The diplomat is expected to return to the country soon, while a new ambassador will be sent to Moscow, but the exact time is unknown, according to the sources. Same day, the Greek Foreign Ministry announced that Russia's decision to expel two Greek diplomats was "not based on any evidence" and also accused Russia of interfering in the country's internal affairs.