Russia's MFA comments on expulsion of The Guardian correspondent

A British journalist who reported that leaked U.S. diplomatic cables described Russia as a "virtual mafia state" has been expelled from the country, according to a statement from the Guardian newspaper.

Luke Harding, The Guardian's Moscow correspondent since 2007, was expelled in November then refused entry when he tried to return to Moscow last weekend, the paper said on February 8 in an e- mailed statement. Harding repeatedly traveled to areas where counter-terrorism operations were under way without notifying security services, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said, according to state news service RIA Novosti.

Russia's Foreign Ministry said on February 8 that Harding was sent back to London over the weekend because he broke immigration rules. Harding requested an extension of his journalist's accreditation and then left the country without receiving his credentials, the ministry said in a statement. The ministry didn't mention Harding's travel within Russia.