In a retaliatory gesture, Russia expelled UK defence attache Adrian Coghill from Moscow in response to what it deemed as ‘unfriendly moves by the UK.’ This action was triggered by the UK’s decision to expel Russia’s defence attache on May 8, accusing him of being an ‘undeclared military intelligence officer.’ The Russian Foreign Minister’s statement, as reported by the Russian news agency TASS, highlighted the tit-for-tat nature of the diplomatic standoff.
The UK’s expulsion of the Russian defence attache was accompanied by the removal of diplomatic status from the Russian-owned Seacox Heath property in Sussex and the trade and defence section at the Russian embassy in Highgate. Additionally, the UK imposed new restrictions on Russian diplomatic visas, limiting the duration of stay for Russian diplomats in the country.
Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that it summoned a representative of the British Embassy in Moscow on Thursday to express its “strong protest in connection with the unfriendly and groundless decision” to expel the Russian attache from London.
“We emphasized that we regard this step as a politically motivated action of clearly Russophobic nature, which is causing irreparable damage to bilateral relations,” the statement read.
“The defence attache at the British Embassy in Moscow, A. T. Coghill, has been declared persona non grata. He must leave the territory of the Russian Federation within a week,” the ministry said.
“Our reaction to the UK’s anti-Russian actions, which were announced on May 8, is not limited to this measure. The instigators of the escalation will be informed about further response steps,” the ministry added.
On May 8, the UK announced several measures to target Moscow’s intelligence-gathering operations in the United Kingdom. Those included expelling Maxim Elovik, a Russian colonel who the British government termed an “undeclared military intelligence officer,” rescinding the diplomatic status of several Russian-owned properties because they are believed to have been used for intelligence purposes, and imposing new restrictions on Russian diplomatic visas and visits, Al Jazeera reported.
The government said the measures followed criminal cases in London alleging espionage and sabotage by people acting on behalf of Russia.
It also cited allegations that the Russian government planned to sabotage military aid for Ukraine in Germany and Poland and carried out spying in Bulgaria and Italy, along with cyber- and disinformation activities, air space violations and jamming GPS signals to hamper civilian air traffic.
The UK has had an uneasy relationship with Russia for years, accusing its agents of targeted killings and espionage, including cyberattacks aimed at British parliamentarians and leaking and amplifying sensitive information to serve Russian interests, Al Jazeera reported.
After Russia sent troops into Ukraine, the UK has also sanctioned hundreds of wealthy Russians and moved to clamp down on money laundering through London’s property and financial markets.
(With inputs from agencies)
