UPDATE - Russia expels British diplomat over espionage allegations, sanctions 30 UK individuals

UPDATES WITH MORE REMARKS BY FOREIGN MINISTRY AND RUSSIA SANCTION 30 UK INDIVIDUALS, HEADLINE, DECK CHANGED

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) – Russia on Tuesday announced the expulsion of a British diplomat in Moscow over espionage allegations.

Separately, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced that it has sanctioned 30 UK individuals from the political, military, and high-tech sectors, as well as members of the British press corps, in retaliation for "hostile actions" against Russia.

Earlier, Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said in a statement that Edward Prior Wilkes, a second secretary at the UK Embassy in Moscow who arrived in the capital in August to replace one of six British diplomats declared persona non grata for espionage, has been ordered to leave Russia within two weeks.

The FSB statement claimed that the diplomat concerned “intentionally provided false information when receiving permission to enter our country, thereby violating Russian law.

"At the same time, the FSB has found evidence and intelligence of his subversive work by the aforementioned diplomat, which endangers the Russian Federation's security.

“The FSB will continue to work to counter the intelligence and subversive activities of foreign intelligence services using all available methods.”

The Russian Foreign Ministry later announced that British Ambassador to Moscow Nigel Casey was summoned over the issue of the UK diplomat’s involvement in “espionage.”

According to the ministry, Wilkes has connections to UK intelligence services and is involved in espionage and subversive activities on Russian territory.

Wilkes' accreditation has been revoked under Article 9 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961, and the British government has been notified, the ministry said, announcing stricter visa application requirements for UK embassy staff to prevent future “misinformation.”

Moscow warned that it would not tolerate undeclared intelligence activities and vowed to take a strict stance to protect national security, warning that any escalation by London would result in a reciprocal response.