A British diplomat has been expelled from Russia after authorities accused him of engaging in economic espionage, further escalating tensions between London and Moscow.
Albertus Gerhardus Janse van Rensburg, a second secretary at the British embassy in Moscow, has been ordered to leave the country within two weeks following allegations made by Russia’s security services.
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) claimed the diplomat attempted to “obtain sensitive information during informal meetings with Russian experts in the field of economics”.
Authorities also alleged that he had provided false information during his application to enter the country, leading to the revocation of his official accreditation.
The UK government strongly rejected the accusations. A spokesperson for the Foreign Office described the move as “completely unacceptable” and said Britain would not tolerate “intimidation.”
The spokesperson further dismissed the claims as “complete nonsense” and accused Moscow of conducting an “aggressive and co-ordinated campaign of harassment against British diplomats.”
Mr Janse van Rensburg is the second British diplomat to be expelled from Russia this year on alleged spying charges, following a similar case in January.
The incident highlights the continued strain in UK-Russia relations, with diplomatic expulsions becoming an increasingly common feature of the ongoing geopolitical standoff.