The Russian government has expelled a British diplomat following accusations of espionage, marking the latest escalation in an ongoing diplomatic feud between London and Moscow.
According to Russian state media, the Federal Security Service (FSB) alleged that the diplomat submitted fraudulent information to secure entry into the country. The FSB further claimed the individual exhibited "signs of intelligence activities," specifically accusing them of attempting to gather classified intelligence during informal economic gatherings.
Consequently, the diplomat has been stripped of their accreditation and given a strict two-week deadline to exit Russia. Russian state outlets have also publicized the individual's identity.
The UK Foreign Office swiftly condemned the expulsion, dismissing the espionage claims as "complete nonsense."
"The UK does not stand for intimidation of British embassy staff and their families," a Foreign Office spokesperson stated.
The spokesperson further accused Moscow of running an "aggressive and co-ordinated campaign of harassment," asserting that Russia routinely manufactures "malicious and completely baseless accusations" against British diplomatic personnel.
Following the expulsion order, Danae Dholakia, the UK's chargé d'affaires in Moscow, was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry. She reportedly departed the meeting without making any public statements.
This incident underscores the deteriorating relationship between the two nations, which has plummeted to historic lows since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The expulsion is part of a broader, ongoing tit-for-tat retaliation cycle. Over the past year, both nations have engaged in a series of reciprocal expulsions, with the UK repeatedly revoking the credentials of Russian officials in response to similar maneuvers targeting British staff in Moscow.