A Russian diplomat has had their accreditation revoked by the UK in a tit-for-tat move after Moscow expelled a British official last year.
Russian ambassador to the UK Andrei Kelin was summoned to the Foreign Office to be informed of the move by the Government.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We have summoned the Russian ambassador for a meeting with a senior British official to revoke the accreditation of a Russian diplomat.
“This is in response to Russia’s unprovoked and baseless decision to strip the accreditation of a British diplomat in Moscow in November.
“The UK will not stand for intimidation of our staff in this way and so we are taking reciprocal action.
“Any further action taken by Russia will be considered an escalation and responded to accordingly.”
In November, Russia expelled a British diplomat it claimed was a spy.
The official had his accreditation revoked and was ordered to leave the country within two weeks, according to local reports citing Russian security service the FSB.
The diplomat was alleged to have been involved in “reconnaissance and subversive work that threatens the security of the Russian Federation” – claims dismissed as unfounded by the Foreign Office.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has placed an increasing strain on relations between the UK and Vladimir Putin’s country.
The revocation of the diplomat’s status is the latest sign that the Government is prepared to publicly react to Russian activity.
Last month, the Government revealed a nuclear-powered attack submarine had been used to warn off a Russian spy ship loitering near critical undersea infrastructure.
