Russia Expels Six British Diplomats from Moscow on Charges of Espionage

Russia announced Friday the expulsion of six British diplomats, on charges of practicing illegal intelligence activities inside Russian territories. The Russian Federal Security Service said in a statement that it has documents showing that the department responsible for Eastern Europe and Central Asia at the British Foreign Office is coordinating what it called "the escalation of the political and military situation," explaining that the expelled group is tasked with ensuring Russia's strategic defeat in the war with Ukraine. The Service considered that the facts available to it confirm the involvement of British diplomats sent by London to Moscow in actions that pose a threat to the security of the Russian Federation. The statement added: "Based on the documents, and in response to the many unfriendly steps taken by London, the Russian Foreign Ministry, in cooperation with the relevant agencies, terminated the accreditation of six members of the political department of the British Embassy in Moscow whos e actions were found to bear signs of espionage and sabotage," noting that Russia will ask other British diplomats to return to their country if they are found to be involved in similar activities. In contrast, a spokesman for the British Foreign Office said in a statement that the steps taken by Moscow against the British diplomats came in the wake of the measures taken by the British government in response to the activities led by the Russian state throughout Europe and in the United Kingdom. He added: "We do not apologize for protecting our national interests." It is noteworthy that Russia announced the expulsion of British diplomats hours before scheduled talks in Washington between British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Joe Biden, a meeting that comes within the framework of approving Kiev's use of long-range missiles against targets inside Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that the West would be entering a direct confrontation with Russia if it allowed Ukraine to target Russian territories with Western-made long-range missiles, a move he said would change the nature and scope of the conflict. Source: Qatar News Agency