Russia expels British diplomat it accuses of espionage

Moscow, Jan 15 (EFE).- Russia has revoked the accreditation of a British diplomat in Moscow, accusing him of espionage and giving him two weeks to leave the country, the foreign ministry said Thursday.

«The British Chargé d’Affaires in Russia, [Donae] Dolakia, was summoned to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to lodge a strong protest regarding information received by Russian authorities regarding the affiliation of one of the embassy’s diplomatic staff members with the British intelligence services,» the ministry said in a statement.

The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) on Thursday claimed that it had discovered an undeclared British intelligence agent working at the embassy.

The chargé d’affaires was informed that in accordance with “Article 9 of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, this individual’s accreditation is revoked.”

«He must leave the Russian Federation within two weeks,» the ministry said, reiterating that «Moscow will not tolerate the activities of undeclared British intelligence officers in Russia.»

“Russia’s uncompromising position on this matter will continue to be implemented in accordance with the national security interests of our country,” it added, warning London that if it chooses to escalate the situation, the “Russian side will give a decisive ‘mirror’ response.»

Russia and the UK have on several occasions expelled each other’s diplomats from the country since the war in Ukraine began.

A British diplomat and the spouse of another were expelled for alleged spying in March last year, a month after the UK expelled a Russian diplomat. Several others were expelled from Moscow in May, September and November 2024. EFE

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