Russia expels British diplomat on espionage charges: “Involved in subversive activities”

expelled Russia diplomat on Monday British on suspicion of espionage, charges London rejected as “nonsense.” Moscow and London have exchanged expulsions of diplomats over the past decade on similar espionage charges. The
Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said the diplomat, identified as 29-year-old embassy secretary Albertus Gerhardus Jansse van Rensburg, was expelled for his involvement in “subversive intelligence activities that threaten the security of Russia.” The FSB
added, “A decision has been made to withdraw Jansse van Rensburg’s accreditation, and he has been ordered to leave Russia within two weeks.”

aggressive harassment campaign

The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that it summoned the British chargé d'affaires and warned London against retaliating in kind. For its part, Britain accused Russia of waging a “coordinated and aggressive campaign of harassment.”
A Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that “Russia’s accusations today against our diplomats are utter nonsense,” adding that Moscow is promoting “malicious and completely unfounded accusations about their work.”