UK protests expulsion of diplomat from Russia amid espionage claims

The United Kingdom’s Foreign Office has expressed strong dissatisfaction following Russia’s decision to expel a British diplomat accused of “espionage,” in the latest escalation of diplomatic tensions between the two countries, Sky News reports.

The diplomat’s accreditation was revoked, and he was ordered to leave Russia within two weeks. Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) alleged that the diplomat had “provided false information about himself” and attempted to gather intelligence on the Russian economy during informal meetings.

In a statement carried by Russian media, the FSB said it had identified an “undeclared intelligence presence” and accused the diplomat of “carrying out intelligence and subversive activities that threaten the security of the Russian Federation.”

The British government rejected the allegations outright. A Foreign Office spokesperson described the claims as “complete nonsense,” adding: “The accusations made today by Russia against our diplomats are complete nonsense. Russia has pursued an increasingly aggressive and co-ordinated campaign of harassment against British diplomats, pumping out malicious and completely baseless accusations about their work. The UK does not stand for intimidation of British embassy staff and their families.”

The incident follows a similar case in January, when another British diplomat was expelled on spying allegations that London dismissed as “baseless accusations.”

Western diplomats in Moscow have long reported intrusive surveillance and pressure, noting that the so-called “Moscow Rules” — guidelines originally developed during the Soviet era to counter intelligence threats — have been updated to reflect current conditions.

Russia has also imposed strict travel restrictions on most British diplomats, requiring them to notify authorities in advance of any trips beyond a 75-mile radius from Moscow.

By Vafa Guliyeva