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British Home Secretary James Cleverly accused the Russian intelligence firm of carrying out a series of “malign activities” in Britain and Europe.
By Mark Landler
Reporting from London
The diplomatic dispute between Britain and Russia escalated on Wednesday after the British announced they would expel a senior Russian diplomat who the government says is an “undeclared” army intelligence officer, and that they would also close several Russian diplomatic facilities in the country.
The government has accused Russia’s intelligence agency, the Federal Security Service (FSB), of carrying out a variety of “malicious activities” in Britain and Europe, as well as hacking and leaking U. S. -related business documents and British lawmakers through malicious email campaigns. . .
James Cleverly, Britain’s home secretary, told parliament that the government is issuing retaliatory measures “to send a message to Russia that we will not tolerate such obvious escalations. “
Britain’s action comes two days after the Russian Foreign Ministry said it had summoned the British ambassador to Moscow to lodge a “strong protest” over comments by British Foreign Secretary David Cameron about Ukraine’s use of British-supplied weapons to attack Russian territory.
The British Foreign Office questioned the call by envoy Nigel Casey, calling it more of a “diplomatic meeting” in which, according to him, he had “reiterated the UK’s support for Ukraine in the face of unprovoked Russian aggression”.
Whatever the diplomatic nuances, it is clear that Britain’s relations with Russia (already among the most fragile between Moscow and a NATO member) are sinking into an even deeper freeze. The Russian Foreign Ministry promised a “tough and measured” response, according to a statement. .
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