The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation has declared that it has decided to revoke the accreditation of two British diplomats and order them to leave the country within two weeks, as reported by the Russian government broadcaster Russia Today (RT) on Monday.
According to The Agence France Presse (AFP), the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB) said that the two diplomats are suspected of engaging in espionage activities.
The FSB confirmed the expulsion of the British embassy’s second secretary and the husband of the first secretary based on spying charges.
“Counterintelligence work had revealed an undeclared British intelligence presence under the cover of the national embassy,” the Russian security service said.
The FSB said on its Telegram account that the Russian foreign ministry summoned an embassy envoy for discussions on this matter.
The security service also said that the two individuals “deliberately provided false information when obtaining a permit to enter our country, thus violating Russian legislation.”
According to Russian news agency TASS, the FSB identified “signs of intelligence and sabotage work” by the two individuals who “threatened Russia's national security.”
Ties between Britain and Russia have become increasingly strained since London accused Moscow of being behind the death of Alexander Litvinenko in the British capital in 2006. Other issues, such as the expulsion of dozens of Russian diplomats from London and the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, have further exacerbated diplomatic tensions between British and Russian officials.
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