Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Saturday said that Moscow is compelled to respond to what it perceives as anti-Russian actions taken by Germany, according to TASS news agency, EDnews informs via Tass.

Zakharova explained that Moscow's goal is not to start unfriendly actions, going on to accuse Berlin of "Russophobia." "Germany started the whole story with expulsions - not us. For me, the mystery of the century is why Germany does not make open statements on this hot topic, which affects Russian-German relations," said the spokeswoman. The news comes shortly after the Kremlin instructed hundreds of German employees working for German institutions in Russia to either leave the country or face unemployment.