Tensions continue to rise between the UK and Russia as a Russian diplomat was expelled from the UK, months after a British official was thrown out of Russia. The action was taken by Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who said Moscow’s decision to expel the UK diplomat in November warranted a response. Russia claimed that the British official had provided false information and was involved in espionage.
Russia’s ambassador to the UK, Andrey Kelin, was informed that one of his diplomats would have their accreditation revoked. An accreditation is a recognition by a government of a diplomat’s status and provides them with certain immunities depending on rank. Lammy asserted that the UK would not accept the intimidation of its staff and warned Russia that if it takes any more action, it will be considered an escalation and responded to accordingly.
In November, Russia accused a British diplomat of spying and ordered them to leave the country within two weeks, revoking their accreditation in the process. The Russian Foreign Ministry had claimed that the diplomat had provided false information on their documents and was involved in espionage activities. However, the Foreign Office dismissed Russia’s accusations as baseless.
Diplomatic relations between the UK and Russia have deteriorated since Russia’s complete invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Expulsions of diplomats from both sides have become increasingly common, and in September 2021, Russia revoked the accreditation of six British diplomats in Moscow, requiring them to leave the country. In May 2022, British diplomat Capt Adrian Coghill was given a week to leave Russia, followed by the expulsion of the Russian defence attaché from London for alleged espionage as an “undeclared military intelligence officer.” A number of British politicians and members of the press have also been barred from entry into Russia, including senior government officials and journalists from the BBC, Sky News, and Channel 4. In addition, 30 individuals, including Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and other Labour cabinet members, were added to Russia’s stop-list
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