Russia Expels Six UK Diplomats Over Alleged Spying

British diplomats expelled by Russia/ UK-Russia diplomatic conflict/ Russia accuses UK of spying/ Newslooks/ Russia expelled six British diplomats, accusing them of spying and subversive activities, amid growing tensions between Moscow and the West. The UK dismissed the accusations as baseless, linking the expulsion to previous diplomatic actions. Both nations continue their diplomatic standoff, fueled by the ongoing Ukraine conflict.

Russia Expels British Diplomats – Quick Looks

• Russia accused six UK diplomats of espionage and expelled them, citing “subversive activities.”
• The expulsions followed the UK’s removal of a Russian defense attaché in May.
• UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer affirmed that Britain seeks no conflict with Russia.
• The British Foreign Office called the allegations “completely baseless.”
• Diplomatic expulsions have intensified since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
• Russian officials warned of further actions if more diplomats engage in similar activities.

Russia Expels Six UK Diplomats Over Alleged Spying

Deep Look

Russia intensified its diplomatic standoff with the West by announcing on Friday the expulsion of six British diplomats, accusing them of spying and involvement in subversive activities. The decision, announced by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), is the latest move in a series of escalating tensions between Moscow and Western powers amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The FSB stated that it had revoked the diplomats’ accreditation after uncovering documents that allegedly revealed their involvement in intelligence-gathering activities. According to the FSB, these diplomats were linked to a division of the UK Foreign Office that aims to “inflict a strategic defeat” on Russia. Without naming the diplomats, the agency emphasized that their actions were deemed hostile, warning that any other diplomats engaged in similar activities would face the same fate.

Russian state media added fuel to the fire, reporting that the expelled diplomats had connections with independent media outlets and rights organizations in Russia, many of which have been labeled as “foreign agents” under Kremlin regulations. This designation is often used to target groups critical of Russian authorities.

While the expulsions were made public on Friday, the UK Foreign Office confirmed that the diplomats were actually expelled weeks earlier. In its response, the UK rejected Russia’s accusations, labeling them “completely baseless.” The Foreign Office linked the expulsions to the UK’s own actions in May, when Britain revoked the credentials of a Russian defense attaché stationed in London, accusing him of being an undeclared intelligence officer. At the time, the UK also imposed a five-year limit on Russian diplomats serving in Britain and closed several Russian diplomatic facilities, alleging they were being used for espionage.

In retaliation, Russia expelled Britain’s defense attaché a week after the UK’s May actions, setting the stage for the current diplomatic escalation. The UK remains firm in its stance, with the Foreign Office stating that it is “unapologetic about protecting our national interests.”

Despite the growing tensions, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov indicated that breaking off diplomatic relations with Britain is not currently being considered. However, Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, supported the FSB’s claims, accusing the British diplomats of violating the Vienna Conventions and engaging in actions harmful to Russia. Zakharova described the diplomats’ behavior as “subversive,” underscoring the Kremlin’s belief that British officials were overstepping their diplomatic boundaries.

The diplomatic spat coincided with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to Washington, where he was set to meet U.S. President Joe Biden. One key item on their agenda was Ukraine’s request to use Western-supplied weapons to strike Russian targets. Starmer made clear that the UK does not seek direct conflict with Russia, stating, “Russia started this conflict by illegally invading Ukraine. We’ve been fully supportive of Ukraine’s right to self-defense, but we don’t seek conflict with Russia.” He added that Russia could end the war at any moment by withdrawing its forces from Ukraine.

The expulsions are part of a larger pattern of diplomatic friction between Russia and Western nations since the Ukraine conflict began in February 2022. Diplomatic expulsions have become increasingly frequent, as both sides have removed diplomats in tit-for-tat exchanges. According to Russian news outlet RBC, by October 2023, Western countries and Japan had expelled 670 Russian diplomats since the start of 2022, while Moscow retaliated by expelling 346 Western diplomats over the same period. This represents more expulsions than in the previous two decades combined.

As diplomatic relations continue to strain, the expulsion of British diplomats serves as a reminder of the broader geopolitical struggle unfolding between Russia and the West, a conflict further complicated by ongoing tensions over Ukraine and the use of Western-supplied military equipment.

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