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Russia expels 2 British diplomats, accuses them of espionage

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Russia expels 2 British diplomats, accuses them of espionage
A Russian police officer patrols outside the British embassy building in Moscow on September 13, 2024. (Alexander Nemenov/AFP via Getty Images)

Russia said on March 10 it had stripped the accreditation of two British nationals linked to the U.K. Embassy in Moscow, accusing them of espionage and "subversive" activities and ordering them to leave within two weeks.

The move comes as the latest tit-for-tat move in a diplomatic row between London and Moscow.

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) claimed it had "identified signs of intelligence and subversive work" by a second secretary of the British Embassy in Moscow and the spouse of another British diplomat.

The FSB did not provide evidence to support the claims nor revealed further details of the diplomats' alleged activities.

The British Embassy denied the allegations as "completely baseless," independent outlet Meduza reported, citing the Embassy's spokesperson.

The U.K. previously expelled a Russian diplomat in February, while Moscow threw out six U.K. Embassy staff members in September 2024.

Tensions between Russia and the U.K. have been mounting since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine and London threw its military and political backing behind Kyiv.

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Martin Fornusek

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Martin Fornusek is a reporter for the Kyiv Independent, specializing in international and regional politics, history, and disinformation. Based in Lviv, Martin often reports on international politics, with a focus on analyzing developments related to Ukraine and Russia. His career in journalism began in 2021 after graduating from Masaryk University in Brno, Czechia, earning a Master's degree in Conflict and Democracy Studies. Martin has been invited to speak on Times Radio, France 24, Czech Television, and Radio Free Europe. He speaks English, Czech, and Ukrainian.

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