Russia expels a British diplomat after accusing him of esp…

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian authorities on Tuesday ordered a British diplomat to leave the country on espionage charges as tensions rise over the conflict in Ukraine.

Russia’s Federal Security Service, Russia’s top domestic security and counterintelligence agency, said in a statement carried by Russian news agencies that the diplomat provided false personal data while applying for permission to enter the country.

The agency, known by its Russian acronym FSB, claimed he worked for Britain’s secret services under diplomatic cover, replacing one of six British diplomats who were expelled from Russia in August. The FSB alleged that the diplomat was involved in “intelligence and subversive activities that threatened the security of the Russian Federation.”

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said a decision was made to revoke the diplomat’s accreditation and he was ordered to leave the country within two weeks. She said the ministry had summoned the British ambassador to deliver the notice.

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office had no immediate comment.

Russia announced the expulsion of six British diplomats in September, weeks after it took place. Moscow has accused them of espionage, allegations Britain has dismissed as “completely baseless”.

Russia and its NATO allies have carried out several rounds of mutual expulsions of diplomats as relations have sunk to their lowest level since the Cold War after the Kremlin sent troops to Ukraine in February 2022.