Russia expels British diplomat amid espionage accusations and Ukraine conflict tensions

Russia said on Tuesday it was expelling a British diplomat for alleged spying, in the latest blow to the already dire state of relations between the two countries.

The FSB security service said the diplomat, whose photo was splashed across TV news bulletins, had intentionally provided false information when he entered the country.

“At the same time, the Russian FSB has discovered signs of the said diplomat conducting intelligence and subversive work that threatens the security of the Russian Federation,” it said in a statement.

There was no immediate comment from Britain’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The British embassy in Moscow did not respond to a request for comment.

The TASS news agency cited Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova as saying that the ministry had summoned the British ambassador, a step that host governments often use to express a strong protest.

According to the FSB, the British diplomat was a replacement for one of six UK diplomats expelled earlier this year, also on espionage charges.