Downing Street has denied allegations that the British ambassador who was expelled from Russia was a spy.
Russia’s state-run news agencies reported that the country’s FSB security service had accused the spokesman – whose photo was shared on Russian TV – of providing false information in his documents and carrying out espionage activities.
When asked if a tit-for-tat dismissal would happen, a No 10 spokesman said they were “considering” their answer.
“To be clear, we deny these allegations,” he said, calling them “baseless.”
Spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova, said that the ministry had also summoned the British ambassador, reported Tass media.
Pictures show the British ambassador’s car arriving at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moscow.
According to Tass, the FSB says that the spokesperson was replaced one of six UK lawyers sacked in Augustand espionage charges.
“This is not the first time [Vladimir] Putin’s government has made outrageous, baseless allegations about our staff,” Downing Street said.
“The UK government is unapologetic about protecting our national interests and will now respond in due course, and our embassy in Moscow will continue its important work in Russia to support UK interests.”
It comes amid worsening relations between the UK and Russia since the all-out invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Last week it emerged that the UK had lifted restrictions on Ukraine using British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles against targets inside Russia for the first time.
President Vladimir Putin cited the move, aside the launch of long-range missiles provided by the US into Russian territoryas the reason for Russia’s decision to launch a new hypersonic missile in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Thursday.
The expulsion of embassies since the start of the war.
At the beginning of this year, British officer Capt Adrian Coghill was given a week to leave Russiadays after a Russian defense official was expelled from London over alleged espionage as an “undeclared intelligence officer”.
Many British politicians and media are also banned from entering the country.
On Tuesday, Russia added 30 more to its “stop list” for what it called “hostile actions”.
The list includes: Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, Chancellor Rachel Reeves, and Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood.
Russia has banned British politicians and journalists in the pastincluding from the BBC, Sky News and Channel 4.
In 2022, closed now Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Foreign Minister David Lammyamong other senior government officials. Conservative party leader Kemi Badenoch was also banned the same year.
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