Russia has expelled a British diplomat on suspicion of espionage, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. The ministry received information about the diplomat’s alleged affiliation with the British secret service. In response, the UK Foreign Office dismissed the accusations as unfounded and malicious.
The Russian ministry summoned British charge d’affaires Danae Dholakia to issue a formal protest and inform her of the diplomat’s expulsion. As Dholakia departed the ministry, she faced disapproval from a group 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 the country, stating that Moscow would respond decisively if London escalates the situation.
A Foreign Office spokesperson condemned the Kremlin’s actions, noting a pattern of baseless accusations against British staff that hinder diplomatic operations. Both Russia and the UK have exchanged diplomatic expulsions in recent years since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Last year, Russia expelled two British diplomats over suspicions of espionage, alleging activities threatening national security. The British embassy in Moscow refuted the claims, vowing to respond appropriately to the accusations.
In a separate development, Sergey Karaganov, head of Russia’s Council for Foreign and Defense Policy, suggested that Putin would resort to nuclear weapons if Russia faced defeat in Ukraine. Karaganov criticized his government for being too lenient with Europe and hinted at severe consequences for those supporting the conflict.
The ongoing diplomatic tensions underscore the strained relationship between Russia and the UK, with both nations engaging in tit-for-tat expulsions and accusations in recent years.