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United Kingdom Condemns Russia's Expulsion of British Diplomats
The United Kingdom condemned Russia on Monday for announcing the expulsion of two of its diplomats, deeming the decision based on "malicious and unfounded" accusations. In an official statement, a spokesperson for the UK Foreign Office stated, "This is not the first time Russia has leveled baseless accusations against our staff," noting that the two countries have exchanged the expulsion of diplomats on several occasions over the past years.
The British diplomats were accused of engaging in intelligence activities under the guise of their work at the embassy in Moscow. In response, the Russian Foreign Ministry affirmed that it would not allow British intelligence officers to conduct unauthorized activities on Russian territory.
In a statement issued in the wake of summoning the British embassy representative in Moscow, the ministry said: "Moscow will not tolerate the unauthorized activities of British intelligence officers, and Russia's firm stance in this regard will be determined according to national security interests."
The statement also added that Russia warned Britain that any escalation of matters following the incident would be met with a strong reaction, indicating that "London will face consequences if it attempts to escalate the situation."
On March 10, the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned the British embassy representative and expressed "strong protest" over reports that some staff members of the diplomatic mission provided false information upon entering Russia, which constitutes a violation of federal law regarding entry and exit procedures.
The ministry advised the British diplomat that their accreditation had been revoked, and they must leave Russia within two weeks. The Russian Foreign Ministry also urged British citizens to provide accurate and complete information when applying for entry visas to the country.
