By Fatimah Idera
In a response to the recent expulsion of two British embassy staff from Moscow earlier this week,The British government announced on Wednesday that it has expelled a Russian diplomat and a diplomatic spouse.
This was made known in an official statement, the UK Foreign Office said it had summoned Russian Ambassador Andrei Kelin over what it described as an “increasingly aggressive and coordinated campaign of harassment” against British diplomats in Russia.
The UK government made it clear that it will not tolerate the intimidation of British embassy staff and their families.
“In response, the Foreign Office revoked the accreditation of a Russian diplomat and their spouse, marking an immediate reciprocal action against Moscow’s,
“It is clear that the Russian state is actively seeking to drive the British Embassy in Moscow towards closure and has no regard for the dangerous escalatory impact of this.”
Recall that Russia accused two British diplomats on Monday of spying and gave them two weeks to leave the country – allegations Britain had rejected as “baseless”.
Moscow has been angered by Britain’s continued military support for Ukraine and by Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s recent statements about putting British boots on the ground in Ukraine as part of a potential peacekeeping force.
Britain said it had summoned the Russian ambassador in London on Wednesday and made clear that it would not stand for the “intimidation” of its diplomats and staff.
“We have drawn a line under this incident and demand Russia do the same,” the foreign office spokesperson said. “Any further action taken by Russia will be considered an escalation and responded to accordingly.
