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The British government announced on Wednesday the expulsion of a Russian diplomat and their spouse, a decisive step taken in response to what it described as a sustained campaign of harassment targeting UK diplomats. The move followed a formal summons of Russian Ambassador Andrei Kelin to the Foreign Office, where officials lodged a vigorous protest over Moscow’s actions.
The UK has accused the Kremlin of orchestrating a series of provocations intended to unsettle its diplomatic staff, further straining already fragile relations between London and Moscow. The expulsions mark a firm rebuttal to these alleged hostilities, underscoring Britain’s determination to safeguard its representatives amid escalating tensions.
“Summoning the Russian Ambassador today, a senior Foreign Office official made clear that the UK will not stand for intimidation of British embassy staff and their families. Consequently, we are taking immediate reciprocal action, revoking accreditation for a Russian diplomat and a diplomatic spouse,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.
Russia escalated diplomatic hostilities on Monday by accusing two British diplomats of espionage and ordering them to depart the country within a fortnight. The move drew a sharp rebuke from the United Kingdom, which on Wednesday charged Moscow with orchestrating an intensifying and methodical campaign of harassment against its diplomats.
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The UK Foreign Office condemned Russia for disseminating “malicious and wholly unfounded” claims about British diplomatic activities, dismissing the allegations as baseless fabrications designed to rationalize an ongoing pattern of intimidation. “Russia’s expulsion this week of a British diplomat and their spouse represents yet another provocative step,” the Foreign Office stated, branding the spying accusations “entirely false” and a pretext for Moscow’s aggressive posture.
“The depths to which Russia is prepared to stoop will be met with resolve,” the Foreign Office declared, signaling Britain’s unwavering stance. It further cautioned that any additional moves by Russia would be viewed as an escalation, promising a measured but firm response. The UK also accused the Kremlin of deliberately pushing the British Embassy in Moscow toward operational collapse, raising the stakes in an already fraught bilateral relationship.
