UK intelligence trying to enlist Russian diplomats, says ambassador
Moscow's ambassador to the UK, Andrey Kelin, alleges that British intelligence services are attempting to recruit Russian diplomats. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Moscow’s ambassador to London, Andrey Kelin, has claimed that British intelligence services have been trying to recruit or threaten Russian diplomats based in the UK, labeling these alleged activities as “unacceptable.” In an interview with RIA Novosti on Thursday, Kelin mentioned that “such instances do take place” and emphasized that the Russian Embassy has been actively highlighting these incidents to British authorities.
In reflecting on actions taken by the previous Conservative government, which included expelling Russia’s military attaché, revoking diplomatic status for certain properties, and limiting the issuance of diplomatic visas in May, Kelin suggested that these measures were primarily aimed at gaining political advantage ahead of the UK parliamentary election in July, which ultimately resulted in a significant defeat for the Conservative Party.
Ambassador Kelin also pointed out that Moscow retaliated by expelling the British military attaché, a decision he described as “quite predictable.” He argued that while London’s actions complicated the situation for Russian diplomats in the UK, they also harmed Britain’s own interests, claiming that “London… knowingly severed channels of military-diplomatic dialogue during a period of unprecedented escalation… in Europe.”
Parallel concerns have been expressed by Russian Ambassador to the US, Anatoly Antonov, who shared similar observations about the situation in Washington during an interview with RIA Novosti in March. He noted that the “situation around the [Russian] embassy is indeed complicated” and highlighted the “unhealthy attention of [US] special services to Russian diplomats.” Antonov alleged that offers for cooperation had reached embassy staff via their personal mobile phones and that agents approached them in public settings.
In June, Antonov criticized the US decision to close Russian visa centers in Washington and New York, stating that this had created a “serious extra burden” on Russia’s diplomatic missions in the US, which he described as already “drained of blood” due to personnel expulsions. He also condemned Washington’s revocation of tax exemption status for Russian Embassy personnel as a “petty, nasty attack.”
According to Antonov, while the US government has not provided reasons for its actions, the underlying motive might have been to “force our diplomats to hide behind the walls of the embassy, to stop communicating and working.” He firmly asserted, “This will not happen. Until the last diplomat, while we remain here, we will keep performing our duties.”
James del Carmen contributed to this report for TROIB News
In reflecting on actions taken by the previous Conservative government, which included expelling Russia’s military attaché, revoking diplomatic status for certain properties, and limiting the issuance of diplomatic visas in May, Kelin suggested that these measures were primarily aimed at gaining political advantage ahead of the UK parliamentary election in July, which ultimately resulted in a significant defeat for the Conservative Party.
Ambassador Kelin also pointed out that Moscow retaliated by expelling the British military attaché, a decision he described as “quite predictable.” He argued that while London’s actions complicated the situation for Russian diplomats in the UK, they also harmed Britain’s own interests, claiming that “London… knowingly severed channels of military-diplomatic dialogue during a period of unprecedented escalation… in Europe.”
Parallel concerns have been expressed by Russian Ambassador to the US, Anatoly Antonov, who shared similar observations about the situation in Washington during an interview with RIA Novosti in March. He noted that the “situation around the [Russian] embassy is indeed complicated” and highlighted the “unhealthy attention of [US] special services to Russian diplomats.” Antonov alleged that offers for cooperation had reached embassy staff via their personal mobile phones and that agents approached them in public settings.
In June, Antonov criticized the US decision to close Russian visa centers in Washington and New York, stating that this had created a “serious extra burden” on Russia’s diplomatic missions in the US, which he described as already “drained of blood” due to personnel expulsions. He also condemned Washington’s revocation of tax exemption status for Russian Embassy personnel as a “petty, nasty attack.”
According to Antonov, while the US government has not provided reasons for its actions, the underlying motive might have been to “force our diplomats to hide behind the walls of the embassy, to stop communicating and working.” He firmly asserted, “This will not happen. Until the last diplomat, while we remain here, we will keep performing our duties.”
James del Carmen contributed to this report for TROIB News
