The UK government has taken decisive action by revoking the accreditation of a Russian diplomat and a diplomatic spouse. This move serves as a direct response to the recent expulsion of two British embassy staff members from Moscow. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) announced this reciprocal measure on Wednesday, declaring it an immediate response to Russia’s accusations of espionage against the British diplomats.
The allegations, deemed “malicious” and “baseless” by the UK, were made by Russian authorities earlier this week, giving the accused diplomats a two-week deadline to vacate the country. In light of the escalating situation, the British government summoned Andrei Kelin, Russia’s ambassador to the UK, to inform him of the decision regarding the expulsions. However, no specific timeline was provided for the departure of the expelled individuals.
Escalating diplomatic tensions
The FCDO emphasized that over the past year, Russia has engaged in an increasingly aggressive campaign against British diplomats. In its official statement, the FCDO highlighted,
“During the past 12 months, Russia has pursued an increasingly aggressive and coordinated campaign of harassment against British diplomats.”
The statement further noted that the actions taken by the Russian state appear aimed at forcing the closure of the British embassy in Moscow, disregarding the potential for severe escalation of diplomatic relations.
Historical context of expulsions
The trend of expelling diplomats has intensified since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with accusations of spying leading to numerous diplomatic standoffs. Over the past year, Russia has expelled seven British diplomats, all of whom were accused of espionage—a claim that the UK has consistently denied. Furthermore, last May saw the UK expelling Russia’s defence attaché in London for allegedly being an undeclared intelligence officer, which led to a swift reciprocal expulsion from Moscow.
Recent months have also witnessed further retaliatory measures, including the revocation of accreditation for yet another Russian diplomat in November, following a similar action by Moscow. The long-standing relationship between Moscow and London has been fraught with tension, especially after the poisoning of former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter in 2018 with a nerve agent in Salisbury, an incident that British authorities labeled a targeted assassination attempt attributed to the Kremlin. Russia has dismissed these claims as unfounded.
Adding fuel to the fire, the UK’s ongoing military support for Ukraine and Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s suggestion of possibly deploying British peacekeepers to Ukraine have further exacerbated tensions between the two nations.