Russia expels British diplomat over allegations of spying

Russia expels British diplomat over allegations of spying

A British diplomat stationed in Moscow has been instructed to leave Russia following accusations from Russian authorities that he was operating as an intelligence officer under diplomatic cover. The individual, whose identity has not been disclosed, has had his accreditation revoked and is required to exit the country within two weeks, according to a statement from Russia’s foreign ministry released on Thursday.

The Russian foreign ministry further revealed that it had summoned the British charge d’affaires, Danae Dholakia, to address the situation formally. Meanwhile, the UK government has refrained from making any official comment regarding the allegations against its diplomat.

Russian officials emphasized their intolerance of what they described as “undeclared British intelligence officers” within their borders, adding a warning about potential further repercussions if the United Kingdom intensifies the matter. The BBC has reached out to the UK Foreign Office for an official response to this development.

Tensions between the UK and Russia have intensified over recent years, especially following Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which has led to a series of diplomat expulsions on both sides. In March of the previous year, Russia expelled two British officials on spying allegations, accusations that the UK Foreign Office labeled as “malicious and baseless.” In retaliation, the UK revoked the accreditation of a Russian diplomat and their diplomatic spouse, emphasizing it would not tolerate intimidation aimed at British embassy personnel and their families

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