LONDON — The UK government has officially revoked the accreditation of a Russian diplomat in a diplomatic response to Moscow expelling a British representative last year over espionage accusations.

UK officials summoned Russian Ambassador Andrey Kelin to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office to communicate this decision.

The Foreign Office stated, “This action is a direct consequence of Russia’s unwarranted and unfounded choice to revoke the accreditation of a British diplomat in Moscow in November.” They emphasized that the UK will not tolerate such intimidation of its personnel and is taking reciprocal measures.

Furthermore, the government warned that any future actions by Russia would be interpreted as an escalation, prompting a strong response from Britain.

Last year, Russian authorities charged a British diplomat with espionage and mandated his departure from the nation. The Federal Security Service of Russia, which oversees domestic security and counterintelligence, claimed that the diplomat was operating undercover for British intelligence, succeeding one of six British diplomats expelled from Russia in August. The UK has outright rejected these spying allegations.

This incident is part of a broader pattern, as Russia and its NATO counterparts have exchanged numerous expulsions in recent years. Diplomatic ties between the UK and Russia have plummeted to unprecedented lows since the Kremlin’s military actions in Ukraine that began in February 2022.