Russia expels two British diplomats over alleged espionage

Monday 10 March 2025 - 13:08

By: Zahouani Ilham

Russia expels two British diplomats over alleged espionage

Russia has expelled two British diplomats, accusing them of espionage and ordering their departure within two weeks. The move is part of an ongoing exchange of expulsions between Russia and the UK over allegations of spying.

According to the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), the diplomats’ accreditations were revoked after it was discovered they provided false information when applying for permission to enter Russia. The FSB also stated that the two diplomats were engaged in intelligence and subversive activities detrimental to Russia’s security.

This expulsion occurs amid the worsening diplomatic relations between the UK and Russia, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Additionally, three Bulgarian nationals residing in the UK were recently convicted of espionage for Russia, while a British man was sentenced to 19 years in prison in Russia for fighting alongside Ukraine. In response, the UK revoked the accreditation of a Russian diplomat in early February.

Although the FSB did not name the expelled diplomats, they were identified as the second secretary and the husband of the first secretary at the British embassy. The Russian Foreign Ministry also summoned a British embassy representative in connection with the accusations.

The UK Foreign Office strongly rejected Russia’s claims, calling the accusations groundless and malicious. Tensions between the two nations have been high since the poisoning of former Russian agent Alexander Litvinenko in 2006 and the 2018 poisoning of Sergei Skripal, which resulted in the expulsion of several Russian diplomats.