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  "path": "/news/world/russia-kicks-british-diplomat-out-spying-charges",
  "publishedAt": "2026-03-30T07:35:57.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
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  "textContent": "\n\n\nA British diplomat has been kicked out of Russia after being accused of spying.\n\nThe diplomat was told to leave the country within two weeks after having his accreditation revoked.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nRussia's counterintelligence agency, the FSB, said they had found signs the second secretary to UK's Moscow embassy was \"carrying out intelligence and subversive activities that threaten the security of the Russian Federation,\" according to Russian media.\n\nThey accused him of attempting to gather information on the economy through informal meetings.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe FSB also claimed he \"provided false information about himself\".\n\nIt adds to ongoing tensions between Russia and Britain, which have seen multiple diplomatic expulsions over allegations of spying and espionage over recent years.\n\nSir Keir Starmer recently announced British commandos will be permitted to board and halt Russian shadow fleet vessels.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nAnnouncing the official authorisation to seize Russian vessels, Sir Keir said: \"[Vladimir] Putin is rubbing his hands at the war in the Middle East because he thinks higher oil prices will let him line his pockets.\n\n\"That's why we're going after his shadow fleet even harder.\"\n\nDespite this pledge, at least six vessels, which are used to prop up Moscow's beaten oil industry, have sailed through since.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nBritain has sanctions on 544 ships in the Russian shadow fleet - more than any other nation.\n\nMoscow's shadow fleet is a secret network of ships used to dodge Western embargoes on Russian oil exports.\n\nThe vessels attempt to evade capture by transporting the oil on aged tankers with deliberately obscure ownership or insurance.\n\nThey transport Russian crude oil to China, India, and Turkey.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nDefence Secretary John Healey defended the government's approach, insisting such operations require \"training, preparation, understanding, discussion with allies, a clear legal basis\".\n\nMr Healey he added that Britain had provided assistance to French and American operations against shadow fleet vessels, describing the new authorisation as \"a signal to Putin that he may want us to be distracted by the Middle East, but we're ready to act\".\n\nThe UK assisted in the US's seizure of the Marinera oil tanker in January, and later that month Royal Navy patrol boat HMS Dagger assisted the French to seize the Grinch, another sanctioned ship.\n\n**_MORE TO FOLLOW..._**\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Moscow kicks British diplomat out of Russia over spying charges"
}