London (Parliament News) – Amid escalating sanctions against Russia, the UK expels a Russian defence attache, citing concerns over malign activities. Additional measures include removing diplomatic status from properties and imposing visa limitations.
Russia’s defence attache is an “undeclared military intelligence officer” who will be deported from the UK amid an escalation of boycotts, the home secretary stated on Wednesday. James Cleverly reported the closure of several Russian diplomatic premises in the House of Commons and pointed to MPs this followed a routine of “malign activity” across Britain and Europe.
What Prompted the Closure of Russian Diplomatic Premises?
It came after senior Conservatives called for additional sanctions against Putin’s aides and allies, stating they were failing to hamper its economy or the movement of its agents. In April, a British man was arrested over alleged hostile state activity planned to benefit Russia, including allegedly recruiting others for an arson raid on a Ukrainian-linked commercial property in London.
Cleverly informed the Commons: “Today in conjunction with the foreign secretary, I am announcing a package of measures to make clear to Russia that we will not accept such apparent escalations. I can tell the house that we will expel the Russian defence attache, who is an undeclared military intelligence officer.
What Measures Did the UK Announce Against Russia?
“We will remove diplomatic premises status from several Russian-owned properties in the UK, including Seacox Heath house, a Russian-owned property in Sussex, and the trade and defence section in Highgate, which we think have been used for intelligence purposes.
We are imposing new limitations on Russian diplomatic visas, including limiting the length of time Russian diplomats can spend in the UK.”
Moscow will make charges of Russophobia and spread conspiracy theories in answer to the UK’s latest actions, James Cleverly expressed. “In the coming days, we should expect accusations of Russophobia, conspiracy theories and hysteria from the Russian government. This is not new and the British people and the British government will not fall for it, and will not be taken for fools by Putin’s bots, trolls and lackeys.”
What is the Opposition’s Stance on the Issue?
Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, stated Labour supported the actions against Russia and would strengthen support for Ukraine. “Russia under Putin is a long-term generational danger to the security of Europe, which requires a long-term response and, as the shadow defence secretary expressed just yesterday, the defence of the UK starts in Ukraine.
“These challenges are also to our homeland security, and that is why we advocate wholeheartedly the efforts the home secretary has set out today, just as we operated on a cross-party basis with the government to give the National Security Act and we will work closely with them in going further,” she stated.
The government enacted sanctions on six men in February who were indicted of running the “brutal prison camp” where the Russian rival politician Alexei Navalny died. Col Vadim Konstantinovich Kalinin, director of the “Polar Wolf” penal colony in the Arctic Circle, was the most senior to have UK assets frozen.
Are Western Sanctions Effectively Deterring Russia?
The head of the UK’s Treasury select committee has cautioned that Western sanctions against Russia are failing to deter its economy. Harriett Baldwin, Conservative chair of the committee, described the Financial Times last month: “There’s a consensus that sanctions are not performing in terms of their stated intent – causing real concern for the Russian economy … The IMF is forecasting it’s going to be one of the most powerful economies this year. She added: “The really serious thing is that the cash is going into their defence budget … to be used attacking Ukrainians.”