Russia expels a British diplomat on espionage accusations, as confirmed by the Russian Foreign Ministry. The Ministry received intelligence linking a diplomatic employee at the British embassy to the UK secret service. In response, the UK Foreign Office dismissed the claims as groundless and malicious.
The Russian ministry summoned British charge d’affaires Danae Dholakia to lodge a formal protest and inform her of the diplomat’s expulsion. As she left the ministry, Ms. Dholakia faced disapproval from a crowd of Moscow residents expressing dissatisfaction with British policies.
The unnamed diplomat has been stripped of accreditation and given two weeks to leave Russia. The Ministry warned against the presence of undeclared British intelligence officers in Russia, promising decisive action if London escalates the situation.
A Foreign Office spokesperson criticized the Kremlin’s baseless accusations, noting the detrimental effect on diplomatic operations. Both Russia and the UK have a history of expelling each other’s diplomats since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Last year, Russia expelled two British diplomats for alleged espionage activities threatening national security. The British embassy in Moscow denied the allegations, vowing a suitable response.
Recent comments from Sergey Karaganov, head of Russia’s Council for Foreign and Defense Policy, underscored concerns over potential nuclear escalation in the Ukraine conflict. He criticized Europe’s support for the war and hinted at severe consequences if the situation persists.