Russia has expelled a British diplomat on allegations of espionage, as stated by the Russian foreign ministry. The ministry received information indicating the diplomat’s connection to the British secret service. The UK Foreign Office dismissed the accusations as unfounded and malicious shortly after the announcement.
The Russian ministry summoned British charge d’affaires Danae Dholakia to register a formal protest and communicate the diplomat’s expulsion. Upon leaving the ministry, Ms Dholakia faced disapproval from a group of Moscow residents expressing discontent with British policies.
The diplomat, unnamed by the ministry, has been stripped of accreditation and instructed to depart Russia within two weeks. Russia warned against the presence of undisclosed British intelligence agents, vowing to respond firmly if London exacerbates the situation.
A Foreign Office spokesperson condemned the Kremlin’s actions, highlighting past baseless accusations against British staff. Both Russia and the UK have exchanged diplomatic expulsions since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
In a similar incident last year, Russia expelled two British diplomats over alleged espionage activities threatening national security. The British embassy denied the claims, asserting a reciprocal response to such allegations.
Sergey Karaganov, head of Russia’s Council for Foreign and Defense Policy, warned of potential nuclear repercussions if Russia faced defeat in Ukraine. He criticized his government for leniency towards Europe and hinted at severe consequences for those supporting the ongoing conflict.
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