Ex-British Policeman Becomes First UK-Born Citizen Stripped of Passport Over Russia Ties

Former British police officer Mark Bullen has become the first native-born UK citizen to be stripped of his passport over alleged ties to Russia, The Sun reported on April 14.

The 45-year-old, who currently resides in Russia, lost his citizenship on national security grounds following a landmark decision by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood.

According to an October letter shared by Bullen, the unprecedented measure was taken because depriving him of his UK nationality was deemed “conducive to the public good.” Mahmood maintained that the underlying evidence would remain classified in the interests of national security.

While two other individuals have previously lost their British citizenship over suspected Russian involvement, neither was born in the UK. The Home Office reserves this power almost exclusively for cases involving terrorism, serious organized crime, or hostile state activity, The Sun wrote.

A self-described “Russophile” who grew up in North London, Bullen served in the Hertfordshire Constabulary for 11 years. During his tenure as a police officer, he actively facilitated professional exchanges with Russian authorities, including participating in a month-long program in St. Petersburg in 2010.

After leaving the police force in 2014, he relocated to Russia permanently. He is now married to a Russian woman, has four children, and is employed by the Zenit St. Petersburg football club. In 2022, he officially acquired Russian citizenship, an achievement he described at the time as a “lifelong dream,” according to The Sun.

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The revocation of his British passport follows years of scrutiny by UK intelligence services. As early as 2013, Special Branch officers questioned Bullen about his frequent travel and connections to Russia. More recently, in November 2024, counter-terrorism police intercepted Bullen at Luton Airport as he was visiting the UK via a layover in Turkey.

Acting under Schedule 3 of the Counterterrorism and Border Security Act 2019—legislation specifically designed to combat hostile state activity—officers interrogated him for hours and seized his digital devices for examination before allowing him to leave without an arrest.

Responding to the Home Office’s decision in a statement to The Sun, Bullen strongly criticized the lack of formal legal proceedings.

“Where is the due process in this case?” Bullen stated. “If I’m guilty, put me before a court and let a judge and jury decide my fate. Special branch have questioned me on two separate occasions and followed me around London in their dog walkers’ outfits for days on end, so either I’m innocent, or they’re incompetent, you decide.”

The revocation of a native-born citizen’s passport over ties to Russia underscores the new step of the “grey zone war” between London and Moscow. Over the past several years, Russian intelligence services have intensified their espionage, sabotage, and cyber operations across the UK and Europe.

From uncovering alleged Russian spy rings operating in London to tracking suspected espionage vessels near critical submarine bases in Scotland, British authorities have increasingly relied on stringent national security legislation to dismantle the Kremlin’s influence networks. This passport deprivation sets a new legal and political benchmark, signaling that the UK is now willing to use its most severe counter-terrorism powers to neutralize potential domestic threats linked to Russia.

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