Moscow, November 27 (IANS). The Russian Foreign Ministry has banned 30 British citizens from entering Russian territory in response to hostile actions by the British side.
A statement issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday said the sanctions list includes members of Britain’s political establishment, military factions, high-tech companies as well as news outlets.
British Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and several other high-ranking officials top the list. According to the ministry, Russia is ready to further expand the sanctions list in response to hostile behavior by the British authorities.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned the British Ambassador to Russia and lodged a protest after expelling a British diplomat on spying charges.
Citing Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), state news agency Tass reported that a British diplomat named Wilkes Edward Pryor has been accused of falsifying information in his documents and carrying out many unusual activities, including espionage.
The FSB said he must leave Russia within two days.
Moscow condemned London for allegedly promoting aggressive anti-Russian rhetoric, imposing illegal unilateral sanctions and supporting the neo-Nazi Kiev regime.
On the other hand, the UK government condemned Russia’s move and dismissed the allegations as malicious and baseless. Apart from this, he vowed to respond at the appropriate time.
Britain said that this is not the first time that Russia has made malicious and baseless allegations against our employees. We will respond at the appropriate time.
–IANS
PSK/KR
