Russia revokes accreditation of 6 British embassy employees for subversive activities

MOSCOW -- The Federal Security Service of Russia (FSB) has revoked the accreditation of six employees of the British Embassy in Russia, citing their involvement in intelligence and subversive activities, local media reported on Friday.

The FSB said that it had obtained documents confirming that London was coordinating efforts to escalate the international military and political situation, according to a report by RIA Novosti.

The FSB named the Directorate for Eastern Europe and Central Asia of Britain's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office as the primary entity orchestrating subversive activities against Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

The directorate, established to focus on Russia and CIS affairs, has effectively functioned as a special intelligence service since the beginning of the special military operation in Ukraine, said the FSB.

"The facts revealed provide grounds to consider the activities of British diplomats sent to Moscow by the directorate as a threat to the security of the Russian Federation," it said, noting that the directorate's main objective has been to strategically undermine Russia.

In cooperation with other relevant agencies, the Russian foreign ministry has terminated the accreditation of six employees from the political section of the British Embassy in Moscow, said the report.

The FSB also warned that it would demand the immediate termination of the mission of any British diplomatic staff found to be involved in similar activities in the future.