Russia Orders British Embassy Employee to Leave After FSB Espionage Claim

Russia has revoked the accreditation of a British Embassy employee in Moscow and ordered him to leave the country within two weeks after accusing him of espionage, according to Deutsche Welle on January 15.

Deutsche Welle reported that Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) identified the employee as 45-year-old Gareth Samuel Davies and claimed he had entered Russia “under cover” of a second secretary post at the embassy.

The outlet added that Russia’s Foreign Ministry summoned the UK charge d’affaires in Moscow, Danae Dholakia, to deliver what it called a formal protest over the case and warned it would issue a decisive “mirror” response if London escalates the situation.

In a separate statement carried by Reuters, the ministry said, “Moscow will not tolerate the activities of undeclared British intelligence officers in Russia.” 

Britain’s Foreign Office rejected the accusations, calling them “malicious and baseless,” and said it was “carefully considering” its response, according to DW and Reuters.

Earlier, it was reported that Russia expelled two British embassy staff and accused them of espionage under diplomatic cover after the FSB claimed they were linked to UK intelligence activities in Moscow.

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