Russia orders British diplomat to go away over spying allegations

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Russia has ordered a British diplomat to go away the nation inside two weeks, alleging the person was working for British intelligence. The Federal Safety Service mentioned the diplomat’s accreditation had been revoked, although no proof was supplied.

Russian authorities Thursday ordered a British diplomat to go away the nation on allegations of spying.

Russia’s Federal Safety Service, identified by its Russian acronym FSB, alleged that the member of embassy workers had labored for British intelligence. It didn’t present proof.

The diplomat’s accreditation was revoked and and the individual should now go away the nation inside two weeks, Russia’s Overseas Ministry mentioned in an announcement. The UK’s cost d’affaires in Russia, Danae Dholakia, was summoned to the ministry’s Moscow headquarters to obtain the discover.

“Moscow won’t tolerate the work of undeclared British intelligence officers in Russia,” Russia’s Overseas Ministry mentioned. It additionally mentioned that it will reply in sort to any motion taken by London on the problem.

There was no speedy response from the British authorities on the matter.

Russia and NATO allies have carried out a number of rounds of mutual expulsions of diplomats as relations have sunk to the bottom ranges because the Chilly Battle after the Kremlin despatched troops into Ukraine in February 2022.

Moscow beforehand expelled two British diplomats based mostly in Moscow over spying allegations in March 2025. The UK known as these costs “malicious and baseless.”

Revealed on January 15, 2026