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Russia has taken the provocative step of expelling another British diplomat, alleging that a Moscow embassy employee provided false information when applying for diplomatic accreditation, with the FSB security service claiming to have uncovered “signs of intelligence and subversive work” that pose a threat to Russia’s national security.
This latest development marks the continuation of a long-standing trend of tit-for-tat expulsions of embassy staff between the UK and Russia, a situation that has significantly deteriorated in recent years, particularly in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, London’s unwavering support for Kyiv, and a series of high-profile incidents, including the notorious use of the novichok nerve agent by Russian agents in an assassination attempt on British soil.
The FSB’s statement specifically targeted the second secretary of the political department in the British embassy, accusing the individual of “intentionally indicating false data when obtaining permission to enter our country, thus violating Russian law” – a serious allegation that, if substantiated, could have significant repercussions for UK-Russia relations.
Although the FSB’s statement did not provide explicit details regarding the allegedly false information, it did assert that it had detected “signs of intelligence and subversive work threatening the security of the Russian Federation,” a claim that has sparked concerns about the increasingly tense atmosphere between the two nations.
The FSB took the unusual step of publicly naming the staff member in question and sharing his picture through state media outlets, thereby heightening the profile of the case and amplifying the sense of diplomatic unease. As a result, the individual’s diplomatic accreditation has been revoked, necessitating his departure from Russia within a two-week timeframe.
A spokesperson for the UK Foreign Office responded to the allegations, stating, “This is not the first time that Russia has made malicious and baseless accusations against our staff. We will respond in due course, as we always do in such situations, and we remain committed to upholding the principles of diplomatic integrity and cooperation.”
Russia’s foreign ministry, meanwhile, summoned the British ambassador to discuss the expulsion, as reported by the Tass state news agency, citing foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. This move underscores the heightened tensions between the two nations and the increasingly complex web of diplomatic relations.
The FSB noted that the expelled staff member had arrived in Russia to replace one of six British embassy staff who were expelled from Moscow in August and September this year, following accusations of espionage that Britain vehemently described as “baseless” at the time. These earlier expulsions were reportedly linked to alleged meetings between British diplomats and workers from Russian NGOs and independent media outlets, including the Nobel Prize-winning Novaya Gazeta newspaper, which have been designated as “foreign agents” by the Kremlin.
In a significant escalation of diplomatic tensions, the UK expelled Russia’s defence attaché in London in May, marking the first such expulsion since the Cold War era. The UK authorities described the individual as an “undeclared military intelligence officer” and concurrently closed several Russian diplomatic facilities, citing “malign activity” as the justification for these measures.
Diplomats attached to other western embassies in Moscow have also faced expulsion orders, while other western capitals have taken reciprocal measures against Russian diplomatic staff in their respective countries, further straining relations between Russia and the international community.
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Russia maintains a list of countries it considers officially “unfriendly” and has been known to respond to western sanctions by issuing entry bans to reporters, politicians, and other individuals from those countries, thereby exacerbating the tensions and diplomatic rifts.
The UK government is presently considering its response to the latest developments, with a potential tit-for-tat expulsion of Russian diplomats remaining a possibility. This situation continues to unfold, with the UK and Russia engaging in a complex game of diplomatic brinksmanship.
On Tuesday, Moscow also imposed fresh sanctions on several high-ranking British officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, and Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, who were among 30 Britons subject to entry bans and other restrictions.
British officials believe that the expulsion and the latest designations are a direct response to the UK’s decision to award Ukraine approval to use long-range Storm Shadow missiles inside Russian territory, a move that has significant implications for the ongoing conflict and the broader geopolitical landscape.
