Russia Expels Two Diplomats from the UK on Espionage Allegations
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Synopsis
On March 10, Russia expelled the Second Secretary of the British Embassy and the spouse of another diplomat, citing false information and intelligence activities. The British Embassy dismissed the accusations as baseless amid ongoing tensions between the two countries regarding espionage.
Key Takeaways
- Russia revoked the accreditations of two British diplomats.
- Allegations include providing false information and intelligence activities.
- The British Embassy claims these accusations are unfounded.
- This incident highlights ongoing tensions between Russia and Britain.
- Historically, such expulsions have occurred in the context of espionage disputes.
Moscow, March 10 (NationPress) Russia announced on Monday that the Second Secretary of the British Embassy in Moscow and the spouse of a fellow diplomat have had their accreditations revoked due to providing false information about their identities and being implicated in covert intelligence activities.
The FSB, during its counterintelligence operations, uncovered undisclosed espionage activities by the United Kingdom under the guise of the British Embassy in Moscow. It has been firmly established that the Second Secretary, Alkesh Odedra, and Michael Skinner, the husband of the First Secretary of the political department, Tabasam Rashid, provided deliberately false data when applying for entry into our nation, thereby breaching Russian laws. Additionally, the FSB detected signs of reconnaissance and subversive activities by these diplomats, jeopardizing the security of the Russian Federation,” stated the Federal Security Service of Russia.
“Consequently, the Russian Foreign Ministry, in collaboration with relevant departments, resolved to revoke the accreditations of Alkesh Odedra and Michael Skinner, mandating their departure from Russia within two weeks. The FSB will persist in countering the intelligence and subversive activities of foreign intelligence services through all available means,” the statement concluded.
Later that day, the British Embassy in Moscow refuted the allegations. In a statement to the Russian newspaper 'Moscow Times', the embassy remarked, “The claims made by the Russian authorities against our personnel and their families are completely unfounded. We will react appropriately.”
This incident is not isolated; tensions between Russia and Britain have long been characterized by intelligence conflicts.
Last month, the Russian Embassy in London asserted that Russia poses no threat to Britain, claiming that the road to military and political escalation has been initiated by London. This statement was in response to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's decision to augment defense spending, which he argues is a response to actions taken by Moscow.
In November 2024, Russia revoked the accreditation of a UK diplomat on espionage charges, who replaced one of the previously expelled UK intelligence officers accused of spying in September. Russian authorities then instructed him to exit the country within two weeks, as per the Federal Security Service.
In September 2024, six British diplomats were expelled from Russia as their spy activity had become “out of control,” according to an anonymous representative of the FSB on a Russian TV channel.
“London sends spies disguised as the spouses of diplomats, even utilizing young children to facilitate their espionage. In essence, all diplomatic decorum has been completely disregarded,” the FSB official emphasized, as reported by the state-controlled media agency TASS.
