RUSSIAN authorities today ordered a British diplomat to leave the country after accusing the official of spying.

The Federal Security Service (FSB) alleged that the embassy staff member had worked for British intelligence, although it did not provide evidence.

The diplomat’s accreditation was revoked and the person must now leave the country within two weeks, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

British charge d’affaires Danae Dholakia was summoned to the ministry’s Moscow headquarters to receive the notice.

The ministry said in a statement: “Russia’s uncompromising stance on this issue will continue to be implemented in accordance with the national security interests of our country.

“A warning has been issued that if London escalates the situation, the Russian side will retaliate.”

There was no immediate reaction from the British government.

Russia and the Nato military alliance have carried out multiple rounds of mutual expulsions of diplomats in recent years.

Relations have sunk to the lowest levels since the cold war after the Kremlin sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022 in response to the continued eastward expansion of Nato.

Moscow expelled two British diplomats last March over spying allegations. Britain called those charges “malicious and baseless.”