The German Foreign Ministry has announced that it has summoned the Russian ambassador to explain the expulsion of diplomats from several European countries.

Iran Press/Europe: Russia's ambassador to Berlin, Sergei Nichayev, has been summoned to the German Foreign Ministry following Moscow's decision to expel a German diplomat, the German Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

Hours earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced that Moscow had expelled three German, Polish and Swedish diplomats who had taken part in illegal rallies in support of Alexei Navalny.

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the three diplomats are considered an undesirable element and will leave the country soon.

The decision follows talks between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and EU foreign policy chief Joseph Borrell, who is visiting Moscow for the first time.

At a joint news conference with Sergei Lavrov on Friday, Joseph Borrell called for Navalny to be released.

A Moscow court sentenced Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny to 3.5 years in prison on Tuesday on charges of violating security. 219