Italy arrests navy captain for spying, expels Russian diplomats

General view of the Russian Embassy after a Russian army official, who is accredited with the embassy, and an Italian navy captain were arrested on suspicion of spying, in Rome, Italy, March 31, 2021. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane

ROME (Reuters) -Italy expelled two Russian diplomats on Wednesday after police said they had caught an Italian navy captain passing secret documents to a Russian military official in return for money.

The Italian captain and the Russian embassy staff member were arrested in a car park in Rome and accused of "serious crimes tied to spying and state security" after their meeting on Tuesday night, Italian Carabinieri police said.