Russian authorities have expelled two individuals linked to the British embassy in Moscow, accusing them of conducting intelligence work. The UK government has strongly rejected these claims, calling them “malicious and baseless accusations.”
Russia’s Federal Security Service Identifies Expelled Diplomats
According to Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), the two expelled individuals include a second secretary at the British embassy and the spouse of another diplomat. Russian state news agency Tass reported that both individuals allegedly provided false information upon entering the country and were given two weeks to leave.
The FSB claimed it had uncovered evidence of “intelligence and subversive activities” that posed a threat to national security. Russian authorities also released a video on X (formerly Twitter) showing a British embassy representative being summoned to the foreign affairs ministry.
UK Denounces Russia’s Diplomatic Expulsions
A UK Foreign Office spokesperson dismissed the allegations, stating, “This is not the first time that Russia has made malicious and baseless accusations against our staff.”
The expulsion is part of an ongoing pattern of diplomatic tensions between Russia and the UK. Last month, Britain expelled a Russian diplomat in response to the removal of a British diplomat from Moscow in November. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the decision was taken following Russia’s latest expulsion.
Russian Spy Ring in the UK Exposed
The diplomatic tensions come amid a major criminal investigation into a Russian-linked spy ring operating in the UK. Six Bulgarian nationals, accused of being part of a Russian proxy espionage network known as the “Minions,” were convicted at the Old Bailey last week. The group was found guilty of conducting espionage on an “industrial scale,” endangering UK national security.
The convicted individuals—Katrin Ivanova, Vanya Gaberova, Tihomir Ivanchev, Orlin Roussev, Biser Dzhambazov, and Ivan Stoyanov—will be sentenced in May. The investigation has been described as one of the “largest and most complex” counter-espionage cases uncovered in Britain.
Escalating Tensions Between the UK and Russia
Beyond diplomatic expulsions, tensions between London and Moscow have been escalating since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In January, Russian diplomats allegedly accessed a restricted area of the UK Parliament, prompting security concerns. Additionally, several British politicians and journalists have been banned from entering Russia, with high-profile figures, including UK Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, placed on Russia’s “stop list.”
As diplomatic relations continue to deteriorate, both countries remain locked in an ongoing cycle of retaliatory measures, further deepening geopolitical tensions.
