Great Britain Reaction to Moscow: British expel Russian diplomats
Great Britain expels a Russian diplomat. The government in London is reacting to Russia's decision in November to withdraw the accreditation of a British diplomat for alleged espionage.
06.02.2025, 16:01
06.02.2025, 16:02
SDA
The British government rejected the accusations at the time and has now summoned the Russian ambassador Andrei Kelin. The UK will not tolerate the intimidation of its employees and is therefore taking countermeasures, the Foreign Office announced. Any further action by Russia would be seen as an escalation. "My message to Russia is clear - if you take action against us, we will respond," wrote Foreign Minister David Lammy on the X platform.
Moscow raised accusations of espionage
Russia expelled a high-ranking British diplomat in November. According to the Russian domestic intelligence service FSB, he allegedly provided false personal information when entering the country. "Indications of espionage and sabotage activities" were also uncovered. The British government strictly rejected the allegations.
It was not the first time that the government of Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin had made malicious and unfounded accusations, London said at the time. The diplomat had only arrived in Russia in August as one of the replacements for six members of the embassy who had previously been expelled.
Relations between Russia and the West have been particularly tense since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. Both sides have expelled diplomats several times since then. However, there have also been expulsions before - for example after the poisoning of the defected Russian agent Sergei Skripal in the UK in 2018.
