British diplomat expel led for alleged espionage

Russia expelled a British diplomat who worked at the embassy in Moscow Tuesday, accusing him of spying, marking the latest blow to the two countries’ worsening diplomatic relations., according to the CNN.

Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) alleged that the British diplomat intentionally provided false information to enter the country as a cover for espionage work, “thereby violating Russian law,” according to state media TASS.

“The Russian FSB has identified signs of intelligence and subversive work by the said diplomat that threatens the security of the Russian Federation,” TASS cited the security service as saying.

The Russian Foreign Ministry subsequently revoked the diplomat’s diplomatic accreditation and ordered him to leave Russia within two weeks, TASS reported.

A British Foreign Office spokesperson said in a statement: “This is not the first time that Russia has made malicious and baseless accusations against our staff. We will respond in due course.”

Russia’s FSB claimed the diplomat was sent to Moscow to “replace” one of six alleged British intelligence officers that Russia expelled this summer.