The United Kingdom has expelled a Russian diplomat in a reciprocal move following the expulsion of a British diplomat from Russia last month, who was accused by Russian authorities of espionage.
The UK Foreign Office has dismissed Moscow’s allegations as “baseless” and described the expulsion of the British diplomat as “unprovoked and unjustified.” According to the Foreign Office, the diplomat was falsely accused of being an intelligence officer, without holding any such official status.
A spokesperson for the Foreign Office stated that the Russian ambassador was summoned for clarifications, with London emphasizing that it will not tolerate intimidation of its diplomatic staff. As a result, British authorities revoked the accreditation of a Russian diplomat.
Against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, tensions between Russia and Western countries have been marked by mutual espionage accusations, at a level diplomats compare to the Cold War. Western diplomats in Moscow have reported intensive surveillance and continuous harassment.
The UK has warned Russia not to continue this approach, stressing that any further actions will be considered an escalation and will receive an appropriate response.
