Russia's ambassador to Australia has denied the two diplomats expelled by the Federal Government are spies.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced two Russian officials in Australia had been identified as undeclared intelligence officers, and would be shown the door as part of a global effort to punish the Kremlin for the attempted murder of a Russian double agent in the United Kingdom.
But Russia's ambassador in Canberra, Grigory Logvinov, has emphatically denied the pair were undertaking covert intelligence operations.
"Ask your authorities how they could judge who is a special agent or not," Mr Logvinov told the ABC's 7.30.
"Within my embassy there are only career diplomats.
"Very funny question, actually. I would be happy to see you ask this question to any of your ambassadors here in Canberra."
Mr Turnbull and his Foreign Minister Julie Bishop foreshadowed Australian diplomats in Moscow would also face expulsion, as retaliation for the Australian Government's decision.
The ambassador said the final decision on that rested with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"The practice is actually quite common," he said.
"The usual way is to expel the equal number of diplomats, but once again the final decision would be taken in Moscow while the different options are being worked out by the Foreign Ministry."
Australia's decision to expel the two Russian officials follows the response by the United Kingdom, the United States and more than a dozen European countries to the attempted murder of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury in England.
British authorities allege Russia used a Soviet-era chemical weapon called Novichok. Russia denies any involvement.
Mr Turnbull described the attack as the latest example of "reckless and deliberate" conduct by Russia, including the annexation of Crimea, cyber attacks and interference in elections in Europe and the US.
Mr Logvinov took issue with that characterisation, and said instead it was countries such as United States that had a record of poor conduct.
He said he understood why Australia had joined its allies in expelling diplomats, but described it as "regrettable" and argued Western nations had jumped to conclusions about who was responsible for the attempted murder.
