LONDON: The British government on Friday firmly rejected Russian claims that six of its diplomats in Moscow were spies, dismissing the accusations as “completely baseless.”
The Russian FSB security service had withdrawn the diplomats’ accreditation, alleging espionage and threats to Russia’s security.
The UK Foreign Ministry suggested that the move was retaliatory, coming in response to Western actions against “Russian state-directed activity” across Europe and in the UK. “We are unapologetic about protecting our national interests,” the statement declared.
The six diplomats have already departed from Russia and have been replaced. Relations between London and Moscow have been strained for years, especially following high-profile poisonings of Russian dissidents in the UK and allegations of hacking and political interference.
Britain is a key military supporter of Ukraine in its war against Russia, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Ukraine is currently seeking approval from the UK and US to use long-range missiles against targets inside Russia, a move that President Vladimir Putin has warned could escalate into direct NATO conflict.
In May, the UK expelled the Russian defense attache for spying, removed diplomatic status from several Russian properties, and imposed a five-year limit on Russian diplomats’ postings, leading to several departures. Former Foreign Secretary James Cleverly described these actions as part of a “pattern of malign activity” by Russia.
