Russia said today that it has called for the expulsion of a British diplomat after identifying evidence that he was engaging in espionage, Russian media reported, citing the Federal Security Service (FSB).
This diplomat, a second secretary at the British embassy, is accused of engaging in “intelligence and subversion activities that threatened the security of the Russian Federation,” Ria Novosti reported, adding that he will leave Russia within two weeks.
The FSB said it was Albertus Gerhardt Yance van Rensburg, whose accreditation was revoked by Moscow. Specifically, according to the same source, the diplomat tried to gather sensitive information about the Russian economy during informal meetings.
A video released by the Russian Foreign Ministry today shows British staffer Danaae Dolakia arriving there.
Relations between Russia and Britain, already at their lowest point before the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, have been extremely tense since the start of Russian military operations in February 2022.
Reciprocal expulsions of diplomats have become frequent in recent years between Russia and Britain.
In February, the British Foreign Office announced it was revoking the accreditation of a Russian diplomat in response to a similar measure taken by Moscow in January.
