Lammy warns Putin as Russian diplomat stripped of accreditation

The determination was a tit-for-tat effect aft Moscow expelled a British diplomat it accused of spying, a assertion dismissed arsenic “baseless” by the Foreign Office.

Foreign Secretary Mr Lammy said the UK’s determination to respond by revoking a Russian diplomat’s accreditation sent a wide message.

Russian ambassador to the UK Andrei Kelin was summoned to the Foreign Office to beryllium informed of the determination by the Government.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We person summoned the Russian ambassador for a gathering with a elder British authoritative to revoke the accreditation of a Russian diplomat.

“This is successful effect to Russia’s unprovoked and baseless determination to portion the accreditation of a British diplomat successful Moscow successful November.

“The UK volition not basal for intimidation of our unit successful this mode and truthful we are taking reciprocal action.

“Any further enactment taken by Russia volition beryllium considered an escalation and responded to accordingly.”

Mr  Lammy said: “We are unapologetic astir protecting our nationalist interests.

“My connection to Russia is wide – if you instrumentality enactment against us, we volition respond.”

In November, Russia expelled a British diplomat it claimed was a spy.

The authoritative had his accreditation revoked and was ordered to permission the state wrong 2 weeks, according to section reports citing Russian information work the FSB.

The diplomat was alleged to person been progressive successful “reconnaissance and subversive enactment that threatens the information of the Russian Federation” – claims dismissed arsenic unfounded by the Foreign Office.

Mr Putin’s penetration of Ukraine has placed an expanding strain connected relations betwixt the UK and the Kremlin.

The revocation of the diplomat’s presumption is the latest motion that the Government is prepared to publically respond to Russian activity.

Last month, the Government revealed a nuclear-powered onslaught submarine had been utilized to pass disconnected a Russian spy vessel loitering adjacent captious undersea infrastructure.