Russian authorities have ordered a UK diplomat to leave the country on allegations of spying that the United Kingdom dismissed as “baseless” in the latest blow to the already dire state of relations between the two countries.
Russia’s Federal Security Service, the top domestic security and counterintelligence agency, said in a statement carried by Russian news agencies that the diplomat had provided false personal data while seeking permission to enter the country.
The agency, known by its Russian acronym FSB, alleged that he has worked for UK intelligence under diplomatic cover, replacing one of the six UK diplomats who were expelled from Russia in August.
The FSB alleged that the diplomat was involved in “intelligence and subversive activities that threatened the security of the Russian Federation”.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said a decision was made to revoke the diplomat’s accreditation and he has been ordered to leave the country within two weeks.
She said the ministry has summoned the UK ambassador to hand over the notice.
A spokesperson for the UK Foreign Office responded to the Russian statements: “This is not the first time that Russia has made malicious and baseless accusations against our staff. We will respond in due course.”
Russia announced the expulsion of the six UK diplomats in September, weeks after it happened.
Officials in Moscow accused them of spying, allegations rejected by the UK as “completely baseless”.
Russia and NATO allies have carried out multiple rounds of mutual expulsions of diplomats as relations have sunk to the lowest levels since the Cold War after the Kremlin sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022.
https://thewest.com.au/politics/russia-expels-uk-diplomat-after-accusing-him-of-spying-c-16890241
