Russian diplomat to be expelled by UK for espionage, says James Cleverly

An “undeclared” Russian military intelligence officer will be expelled from the UK, James Cleverly has said.

The Interior Minister also announced the closure of several Russian diplomatic premises and new restrictions on diplomatic visas.

The defense attaché, named Colonel Maxim Elovik, appears to have been in the UK since at least 2014.

The Russian embassy in London said the restrictions were imposed under an “unfounded and ridiculous pretext”.

Speaking in the House of Commons on Wednesday, Mr Cleverly told MPs: “Today, together with the Foreign Secretary, I am announcing a package of measures to send a message to Russia that we will not tolerate such apparent escalations.

“I can tell the House that we will expel the Russian defense attaché, who is an undeclared military intelligence officer.”

The Commons was told that new restrictions on Russian diplomatic visas would be introduced, including a cap on the length of time Russian diplomats can stay in the UK.

The tougher measures are the latest action in response to a “series of suspected Russian malicious activities across the UK and Europe” with the aim of “targeting and dismantling Russian intelligence-gathering operations”, said the Interior Ministry.

It comes after five people were charged with conspiring to carry out espionage in the UK on behalf of Russia under the National Security Act, the first such prosecutions under the new laws.

Prior to his assignment in London, Colonel Elovik served as Deputy Military Attaché at the Russian Embassy in Washington DC.

Mr Cleverly said that in the coming days Moscow would level accusations of “Russophobia” while spreading “conspiracy theories and hysteria”.

“This is nothing new and the British people and the British government will not allow themselves to be trapped and made fools of by Putin’s bots, trolls and lackeys,” he added.

He said the diplomatic premises status of “several Russian properties in the UK”, including Seacox Heath House, a Russian property in Sussex, and the commercial and defense section at Highgate, would be removed.

“We believe they were used for intelligence purposes,” he said.

Russia’s official TASS news agency reported that the Russian embassy in London was promising “an appropriate response” to the accusations.

“We are always careful to protect our ability to have lines of communication with Russia, even in these most difficult times, the avenues of de-escalation, of avoiding mistakes and miscalculations are really important,” Mr. Cleverly.

Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said Labor “wholeheartedly” supported the move, telling MPs: “We echo the Home Secretary’s strong condemnation of Russian interference and hostile activities here in the UK and across Europe.

“Time and time again, we have witnessed Russia’s blatant disregard for the rule of law, the UK, our allies and our internal security.”

Former Conservative minister Rehman Chishti questioned whether the UK would pass legislation to seize Russian assets, adding: “It is absolutely crucial that we do everything we can to cut off Putin’s finances and ensure that ‘he finances the reconstruction of Ukraine.’

Mr Cleverly responded: “We have made it clear, we will be incredibly imaginative, we will work hard to ensure that the regime and the people who financed the brutal attack on Ukraine are also the ones financing the reconstruction of the “Ukraine, and we are working with our international partners to make this a reality.”