British diplomat expelled from Russia on espionage charges
A British diplomat has been expelled by Russia on suspicion of spying, the FSB security agency said.
The official has been stripped of his accreditation and given two weeks to leave the country.
The staff member “intentionally provided false information when receiving permission to enter our country, thereby violating Russian legislation,” the FSB told state media.
“At the same time, the Russian FSB has identified signs of the said diplomat conducting intelligence and subversive work that threatens the security of the Russian Federation.”
“The Russian ministry of foreign affairs, in co-operation with interested departments, made a decision to deprive Wilkes Edward Pryor of accreditation, and he was ordered to leave Russia within two weeks.”
The diplomat was said to have joined the British contingent in Moscow as a replacement for staff who were expelled on suspicion of espionage in August.
The UK and other European countries have expelled hundreds of Russian diplomats during the war in Ukraine for the same reason.
Russia’s foreign ministry has also summoned the British ambassador, Nigel Casey, over the incident. Russian state media appeared to show him arriving at ministry headquarters in Moscow.
The UK Foreign Office has been reached for comment.
Analysts suggested the move could have been related to the UK decision to allow Ukraine to use British-made Storm Shadow missiles against targets in Russia.
“Storm Shadow fallout. Expect more to come,” posted Nikolaus von Twickel, a Russia analyst at German think-tank Zentrum Liberale Moderne, on social media.
This story is being updated
