MOSCOW: Russia has expelled a British diplomat stationed at the UK Embassy in Moscow, accusing him of engaging in espionage activities. The expulsion marks the latest escalation in the deteriorating diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russia claimed that the diplomat had entered the country under false pretenses and was using his diplomatic status as a cover for espionage, violating Russian law.
Accordingly, Russia’s Unfamiliar Service renounced the negotiator’s certification and requested him to leave the country in the span of about fourteen days, as per Russian state news organization TASS.
The British Foreign Office swiftly denounced the accusations, calling them “malicious and unfounded.” A spokesperson reiterated that Russia has a history of making baseless allegations against British diplomats and said that the UK would address the matter in due course.
This move follows Russia’s expulsion of several British diplomats in August, accusing them of spying. The UK dismissed those allegations as equally groundless.
Tensions between Russia and the UK have intensified since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with the UK playing a prominent role in supporting Ukraine through military aid, sanctions, and diplomatic efforts. Recently, UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles were used in strikes on Russian territory, further aggravating the situation.
In retaliation, Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned Western involvement in Ukraine and announced the deployment of a new medium-range ballistic missile, which he described as a response to Western nations’ “reckless” decisions.
