Russia expels two more British diplomats

A British diplomat and the spouse of different diplomat are being expelled from Russia, the country's home information work has said, successful what is being seen arsenic the latest tit-for-tat escalation aft the UK expelled a Russian authoritative past month.

The Foreign Office is yet to remark connected the allegations that the embassy unit were being thrown retired connected spying charges.

They person been stripped of their accreditation and ordered to permission Russia wrong 2 weeks, the Federal Security Service (FSB) said, adding it had uncovered "signs of quality and subversive work" by the 2 men.

A typical of the British embassy has besides been summoned implicit the case, Russia's overseas ministry said connected Monday.

In the past twelvemonth alone, determination person been 7 British diplomats expelled from Russia with Moscow accusing them of espionage - allegations denied by the UK.

Relations betwixt the UK and Russia person deteriorated successful the years pursuing Russia's penetration of Ukraine.

Last month, the UK expelled a Russian diplomat- an enactment taken successful effect to Moscow's expulsion of a British diplomat successful November 2024.

The Russian Foreign Ministry had said past that it intended to retaliate to the expulsion.

In Monday's reported action, Moscow said it was expelling the diplomats connected grounds of espionage.

In a connection the FSB said the 2 had declared "false accusation astir themselves erstwhile receiving permission" to participate Russia.

The BBC has approached the UK Foreign Office for comment.

The brace look to beryllium the archetypal occidental diplomats to beryllium expelled from Moscow since Russia and the US held talks connected restoring diplomatic relations.

Last week, Washington and Moscow held talks successful Turkey to reconstruct unit astatine their respective embassies aft years of tit-for-tat expulsions. On Friday - 1 time aft talks were held successful Istanbul - Russia confirmed it would nonstop a caller ambassador, Alexander Darchiev, to Washington.

Relations betwixt Britain and Russia person been further strained since Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer unveiled a bid of measures supporting Ukraine, including expanding defence spending, calling connected countries to articulation a "coalition of the willing" to deter Russia from further invading Ukraine successful the lawsuit of a bid deal, and committing to enactment boots connected the crushed and planes successful the aerial to assistance support a peace.