Moscow protested to London and warned of retaliatory measures in case of escalation

Moscow has strongly protested to London in connection with the revealed facts that some employees of the British diplomatic mission knowingly provided false information when obtaining a Russian visa amid a diplomatic scandal and the expulsion from the Russian Federation of two employees of the British Embassy accused of intelligence activities.

Earlier today, on March 10, a representative of the British Embassy in Moscow was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

"The Russian side has expressed a strong protest in connection with the revealed facts that some employees of the diplomatic mission knowingly provided false information when receiving permission to enter the Russia, which is a violation of paragraph 2 of Article 26 of the Federal Law "On the Procedure for Leaving Of the Russian Federation and entry into The Russian Federation" dated 08/15/1996, No. 114-FZ," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

It is noted that "the British diplomat was informed that in connection with the violation of Russian legislation, as well as taking into account the information received by the Russian competent authorities indicating that these employees belong to the special services of Great Britain, and in accordance with article 9 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961, the accreditation of these persons is withdrawn." Two British diplomats "should leave the territory of the Russian Federation within two weeks."

"It was once again emphasized that Moscow will not tolerate the activities of undeclared British intelligence officers on the territory of Russia and that Russia's uncompromising line on this issue will be formulated in accordance with the interests of national security," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

"UK citizens are strongly advised to provide only reliable and complete information about themselves when applying for a Russian visa. A warning was also issued that if London escalates the situation, the Russian side will give a decisive "mirror" response," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

As reported by EADaily, earlier the FSB of Russia stated that in the course of counterintelligence work, an undeclared intelligence presence of Great Britain was revealed under the guise of the national embassy in Moscow. According to the intelligence service, "It has been reliably established that Alkesh Odedra, the second secretary of the embassy, and Michael Skinner, the husband of the first secretary of the political department of the embassy, Tabasum Rashid, who were sent to Moscow, deliberately provided false information when obtaining a Russian visa. There are also signs that these diplomats are carrying out intelligence and subversive work that threatens the security of the Russian Federation.