Russia Expels 6 British Diplomats On Accusations Of Spying (image @ukinrussia)
The Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russia revoked the accreditation of six British diplomats in Moscow whose actions allegedly showed signs of spying and sabotage work, said Reuters. The British Embassy in Russia did not immediately respond to the announcement.
The FSB stated that it had documents which showed a British foreign office department in London responsible for Eastern Europe and Central Asia was coordinating what it called “the escalation of the political and military situation” and was tasked with ensuring Russia’s strategic defeat in its war against Ukraine.
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In its statement, the FSB said it gives “grounds to consider the activities of British diplomats sent to Moscow by the directorate as threatening the security of the Russian Federation.”
According to the statement, “On the basis of documents provided by the Federal Security Service of Russia and as a response to the numerous unfriendly steps taken by London, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, in co-operation with the agencies concerned, has terminated the accreditation of six members of the political department of the British Embassy in Moscow in whose actions signs of spying and sabotage were found.”
Speaking to Russia-24 state TV Channel, one FSB employee said the British citizens did not take hints asking them to stop the alleged practice (of carrying out intelligence activities inside Russia), which is why it “expel these six to begin with.”
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The agency also said that it will ask other British diplomats to go home if they were found to be engaged in doing the same activities.
Maria Zakharova, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, said that the activities of the British embassy in Moscow had gone well beyond diplomatic convention and accused it of carrying out deliberate activity designed to harm the Russian people, as reported by state TASS news agency.
