Tit-for-tat diplomacy: UK removes Russian diplomat accreditation

The United Kingdom has revoked the accreditation of a Russian diplomat stationed in London in response to the expulsion of a British embassy staff member from Moscow on espionage allegations.

According to the British government, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office summoned Russia’s ambassador and formally delivered the relevant notification.

London described Moscow’s actions on March 30 as “unjustified” and characterised the subsequent public campaign as a “malicious” attempt to discredit. The statement emphasised that the United Kingdom will not tolerate the harassment or intimidation of its diplomats.

The British Foreign Office warned that any further “unprovoked and unjustified” steps by Russia would be treated as an escalation and would trigger proportionate countermeasures.

Since 2022, relations between the two countries have remained strained, with reciprocal expulsions of diplomats occurring on a regular basis.

By Jeyhun Aghazada