Russia kicks out British diplomat over ‘spying’ allegations as tensions with Moscow soar | World | News

Russia expelled the British diplomat from the country, accusing him of spying. Moscow’s foreign ministry said on Thursday morning that it had received information “regarding the connection of a diplomatic employee at the embassy with the British secret service.”

The ministry said it had summoned British chargé d’affaires Danae Dholakia to lodge a “strong protest” and inform him of the diplomat’s expulsion, according to a translation of a post on the Telegram channel. The ministry did not identify the diplomat but said he must leave Russia within two weeks.

The ministry said Moscow “will not tolerate the activities of undeclared British intelligence officers in Russia” and warned that if London “escalates the situation”, Russia would “respond decisively in the same way”.

Both Russia and Britain have periodically expelled each other’s diplomats from the country since the start of the war in Ukraine.

In March last year, Russia deported a British diplomat and the wife of another, claiming that the duo were spies.

In response, the UK expelled a Russian diplomat, with the then foreign secretary David Lammy accusing Moscow of waging a “relentless and unacceptable campaign of intimidation” against British embassy staff.

The Express has contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment.