On Friday, Russia’s FSB security service announced it had revoked the accreditation of six British diplomats in Moscow, accusing them of espionage and sabotage.
The FSB, the successor to the Soviet KGB, claimed it had evidence showing that a British Foreign Office department responsible for Eastern Europe and Central Asia was involved in escalating the political and military situation against Russia and aimed at ensuring Russia’s strategic defeat in its conflict with Ukraine.
The FSB stated that the activities of these diplomats were deemed a threat to Russian security.
The Russian Foreign Ministry, in cooperation with relevant agencies, decided to expel the diplomats in response to what it described as numerous unfriendly actions taken by London.
The names and photographs of the diplomats were released on Russian state TV.
An FSB employee mentioned that if other British diplomats were found engaging in similar activities, they too would be expelled.
Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, accused the British embassy of exceeding diplomatic norms and deliberately conducting activities to harm Russia.
The British embassy in Moscow has not yet commented on the allegations.
