UK accuses Russia of driving its Moscow embassy towards closure
The UK expelled a Russian diplomat and their spouse on Wednesday in a tit-for-tat response to the expulsion of two British diplomats for alleged espionage, a claim UK officials strenuously deny.
In a strongly worded statement, the Foreign Office said: 'During the past 12 months, Russia has pursued an increasingly aggressive and coordinated campaign of harassment against British diplomats, pumping out malicious and completely baseless accusations about their work.
'Russia's expulsion this week of a British diplomat and diplomatic spouse is yet another escalation. The accusations made against these individuals are entirely false, fabricated in order to justify their increasing harassment of UK diplomats.
'It is clear that the Russian state is actively seeking to drive the British embassy in Moscow towards closure and has no regard for the dangerous escalatory impact of this.'
A senior Foreign Office official summoned the Russian ambassador, Andrey Kelin, and told him that the UK would not stand for the intimidation of British embassy staff and their families.
The official said: 'We do not take this decision lightly but we have always made clear to Russia that if they escalate, we will take reciprocal action. The depths to which Russia sinks can only be met through strength.'
The foreign secretary, David Lammy, on his way to a meeting of his G7 counterparts in Canada, said: 'We will not tolerate the Kremlin's relentless and unacceptable campaign of intimidation, nor their repeated attempts to threaten UK security.'
The Foreign Office stressed that it believed in keeping diplomatic lines of communication open and said it would regard the latest episode as closed so long as Russia did not seek to escalate further.
In throwing out two British diplomats, Moscow said it 'will not tolerate the presence of undeclared British intelligence personnel in Russia'.
Sign up to First Edition
Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters
after newsletter promotion
The FSB, Russia's domestic intelligence service, said the two people expelled were the embassy's second secretary and the spouse of another diplomat. It said it had uncovered 'signs of espionage and sabotage work' by both of them.
Russian intelligence services have claimed the UK sees the recent restoration of US-Russian relations as a threat to its interests, with the UK regarding control over Ukraine as central to its strategy of containing Moscow.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
British couple accused of spying in Iran 'holding strong' after making first call home
Lindsay and Craig Foreman were detained in January while on a motorcycle tour around the world and later charged with espionage The family of a British couple detained in Iran's 'worst' prisons have confirmed that they are "holding strong", following their first direct conversation with them in seven months. Lindsay and Craig Foreman, from East Sussex, were arrested in January while on a global motorcycle tour that took them to Iran while travelling through the Middle East. They were subsequently charged with espionage, which they vehemently deny. The tourists' son, Joe Bennett, from Folkestone, Kent, shared details of an eight-minute call he had with his mother, during which they experienced a range of emotions. He said: "We laughed, we cried, and for a few brief moments, it felt like the weight of the past seven months lifted. He expressed his belief that his parents are "holding strong", noting their resilience, positivity, and noted "somehow, they're still smiling". Mr Bennett revealed that his parents are being held separately in different prisons and have access only to basic resources. He also shared with BBC Radio Kent that British officials reported his father appeared "dishevelled and had lost a lot of weight". His mother's mobility has been affected due to the conditions in the prison. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has advised British and British-Iranian nationals, who are at significant risk of detention, against travelling to Iran. A spokesperson stated: "We are deeply concerned by reports that two British nationals have been charged with espionage in Iran. We continue to raise this case directly with the Iranian authorities. "We are providing them with consular assistance and remain in close contact with their family members."
Libya Herald
2 hours ago
- Libya Herald
Brega begins its fuel truck e-tracking system to counter smuggling
Libya's Brega Oil Marketing Company, the National Oil Corporation's (NOC) subsidiary charged with fuel imports and distribution, announced today that it has started its automated fuel truck tracking system. Brega said the operations and automated tracking room was inaugurated by its Chairman, Fouad Ali Balrahim, in the presence of Board members and several managers and company officials. A quantum leap Brega said the step is a quantum leap in direct communications with the drivers of the company's fuel trucks and immediate response to any emergency faced by the company's drivers, as well as enforcing regulations on speed compliance and good behaviour on the public road. Brega said that among the most important advantages of the system are: * The possibility of direct communication with drivers. * SOS emergency alarm system. * Ability to stop the truck engine remotely. * Accurate identification of cargo unloading locations. The project was implemented under the supervision of the General Directorate of Information and Communications Technology, and will manage the main operations room of the tracking process in cooperation with the departments concerned with controlling the movement of fuel trucks. This project, Brega added, underscores its commitment to digital transformation and enhanced oversight to serve the public interest. If successful, a possible quantum leap in Libya's anti-fuel smuggling efforts? Successive Libyan governments since the 2011 revolution have made unsuccessful efforts to counter the country's huge cross land and sea border fuel smuggling problem. Last month, Naji Issa, Governor of the Central Bank of Libya put the country's annual fuel smuggling bill at about LD 20 billion (US$ 2.7 bn). This equates to about a third of all annual government fuel subsidies. The launch of e-tracking of fuel trucks is part of the government's wider effort to counter this fuel smuggling across land to neighbouring countries and across the sea to states where fuel prices are unsubsidised to the high levels of Libya. A subsidised litre of petrol in Libya today costs LD 0.15 – about US$ 0.02. It will be recalled that in July 2024, Tripoli based Libyan Prime Minister, Abd Alhamid Aldabaiba, and the head of the Audit Bureau, Khaled Shakshak, attended a workshop on launching an enhanced fuel truck tracking and fuel monitoring system on Brega fuel trucks. This ''anti-fuel smuggling system'' involves converting the fuel outlet valves on fuel delivery trucks from simple mechanical valves that can be opened by anyone at any time, to electronic valves that can only be opened at the targeted petrol station. The system also includes an electronic fuel gauge to measure the amount of fuel delivered; electronically sealed fuel inlets and control cameras fitted to the delivery truck. In parallel to this, an electronic gauge is to be installed at the fuel tanks in petrol stations. Formation of a technical committee At the workshop, the Prime Minister directed the formation of a technical committee from all relevant authorities to evaluate the system and the practical steps to be taken to ensure its implementation throughout the country. Fuel consumption quotas for citizens and unsubsidized prices for foreigners Moreover, at the July 2024 workshop, subsequent possible and more advanced phases of the system included fitting electronic fuel pumps at petrol stations that can identify if the refuelling citizen's car has used up its allotted subsidised fuel consumption quota, if it is reported as stollen, or if it belongs to a foreigner. Foreigners could pay higher unsubsidised fuel price The system could be set up so thatforeigners would pay a higher unsubsidized price for petrol. Quotas are the average worked out by the government of how much fuel the average Libyan citizen consumes per day/week/month/year. Fuel consumption quotas are part of the government's plans to reform fuel subsidies by paying citizens directly the average amount of fuel they consume while raising fuel prices. This is to reduce the abusive consumption and smuggling of fuel across Libya's porous borders. . Attorney General holds anti-fuel smuggling high summit Ten expatriates convicted for smuggling 1.185 million litres of fuel off the coast of Zuwara Committee discusses regulation and fuel smuggling prevention system provided by Al-Namaa Oil Investment Company PM Aldabaiba attends workshop on an experiment of an electronic system to prevent fuel smuggling Secular and religious agree on need for Libya's gradual energy subsidy reform IMF study entitled 'Energy Subsidy Reform in Libya' concludes that reform is crucial as subsidies lead to overconsumption and premature resource depletion NOC chairman Bengdara says his organisation is not a security force to combat fuel smuggling ( Aldabaiba forms ministerial committee to study mechanism for fuel subsidy reform – again ( Supreme Council for Energy adopts NOC 2023-2027 plan, including alternative energy project ( Attorney General bans 15 petrol stations for fuel smuggling abroad ( Prosecutor orders fuel supply ban on 32 petrol stations accused of complicity in fuel smuggling ( Upon Attorney General's order, Brega stops supplying 32 petrol stations accused of fuel smuggling ( At Gharian cabinet meeting, Aldabaiba explains fall in black-market value of dinar and resounds alarm over fuel subsidies ( Ministry of Oil concerned about negative effect of UN report on fuel smuggling on sector investment ( Zawia Public Prosecutor orders detention of militia commander guarding Zawia refinery for fuel smuggling ( Attorney General takes measures to combat Zawia refinery fuel smuggling through security apparatus ( Economy Minister follows up on fuel distribution and counter-smuggling efforts including GPS tracking In an effort to counter fuel smuggling, the Economy Minister orders fuel trucks to be fitted with GPS tracking devices ( GPS truck tracking to be used to counter fuel smuggling, profiteering by fuel distributors will be penalized ( Libya's fuel smuggling: a new Swiss connection is revealed ( Alternatives to fuel subsidies with cash payments delivered to Aldabaiba ( Libya evaluating subsidies for renewable energies – within existing fuel subsidies ( Prime minister Aldabaiba forms Ministerial committee to study reforming fuel subsidies, orders payment of family grant, increases pensions ( Brega claims it can assess demand, manage smooth fuel distribution and reduce its smuggling ( Libya's annual fuel bill rose to US$ 12 bn due to increased electricity production ( Fuel quantities, smuggling and subsidy reform – and increased oil production through PPP discussed at summit meeting ( 44 Brigade continues fight against fuel smugglers – LibyaHerald GPS truck tracking to be used to counter fuel smuggling, profiteering by fuel distributors will be penalized – LibyaHerald Libya's fuel smuggling: a new Swiss connection is revealed – LibyaHerald AG issues arrest warrants, freezes bank accounts of fuel smuggling petrol station owners. – LibyaHerald Fuel smugglers' sites bombed by Air Force, petrol stations shut down as part of continuing anti fuel smuggling drive – LibyaHerald PC Air Force supports NOC's anti-fuel smuggling initiative – LibyaHerald Libyan fuel smuggling is part of an international smuggling network: Attorney General's office – LibyaHerald Tunisians make large fuel smuggling bust on border – LibyaHerald Coast guard arrests two tankers on suspicion of fuel smuggling – LibyaHerald Attorney General investigates petrol company executives over fuel smuggling – LibyaHerald Brega to inspect all petrol stations in its continued anti-fuel smuggling drive – LibyaHerald
Powys County Times
3 hours ago
- Powys County Times
Couple make first call home since being detained in Iran
A British couple detained in Iran are 'holding strong', their family have said after being able to speak to them directly for the first time in seven months. Lindsay and Craig Foreman, of East Sussex, were detained in January while on a motorcycle tour around the world and later charged with espionage. They deny the allegations. Their son Joe Bennett, of Folkestone, Kent, told the BBC he had an eight-minute call with his mother. He said: 'We laughed, we cried, and for a few brief moments, it felt like the weight of the past seven months lifted.' He feels his parents are 'holding strong', adding that 'they're resilient, they're positive, and somehow, they're still smiling'. The couple have been separated, are being held in different prisons and have access to basic resources, according to Mr Bennett. He also told BBC Radio Kent that British officials saw his father was 'dishevelled and had lost a lot of weight'. His mother is not walking well due to prison conditions. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advises British and British-Iranian nationals, who are at significant risk of detention, not to travel to the Middle Eastern country. A spokesman said: 'We are deeply concerned by reports that two British nationals have been charged with espionage in Iran. 'We continue to raise this case directly with the Iranian authorities. 'We are providing them with consular assistance and remain in close contact with their family members.'
