The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr William Hague)
On 10 December we requested that the Russian embassy in London withdraw a member of their staff from the UK. This was in response to clear evidence of activities by the Russian intelligence services against UK interests.
Russia responded on 16 December by requesting the removal of a member of our embassy staff in Moscow. We reject any basis for this action.
Both staff members have now been withdrawn.
We remain open to a more productive relationship with Russia, as with any other country, on the basis of respect for our laws.