UK accuses Russia of ‘aggressive, co-ordinated campaign of harassment’ over expelling British diplomat

ISTANBUL

The UK accused Moscow of an "aggressive and co-ordinated campaign of harassment" after Russia expelled a British diplomat Monday over alleged intelligence activities, which London dismissed as "nonsense."

"Russia has pursued an increasingly aggressive and co-ordinated campaign of harassment against British diplomats, pumping out malicious and completely baseless accusations about their work," a Foreign Office spokesman said, according to Sky News, adding that the Russian accusations are "complete nonsense."

"The UK does not stand for intimidation of British embassy staff and their families," he said.

Russia expelled the second secretary of the British Embassy in Moscow, Jance Gerardus, on allegations of intelligence activities, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) announced Monday.

The FSB said Gerardus' accreditation was revoked and that he must leave Russia within two weeks, noting that he "deliberately provided false information" when applying to enter the country and "was conducting intelligence and subversive activities" threatening its security.