espionage

Russia ordered a British diplomat to leave the country within two weeks on Thursday after accusing him of working as an undeclared intelligence officer, a claim the United Kingdom rejected as false and damaging to diplomatic relations.

The move deepens already strained ties between Moscow and London and signals another escalation in a long running dispute over alleged spying activities that has intensified since Russia’s war in Ukraine.

According to Russia’s Federal Security Service, known as the FSB, the diplomat identified as Gareth Samuel Davies was operating under cover as a second secretary at the British embassy in Moscow while …