Spy crisis escalates as Russia rages over US ‘trying to recruit diplomats’ after it expels 23 more envoys
Earlier in the day Moscow had summoned the ambassadors of a number of nations including Britain, France, Germany and Canada to tell them of retaliatory measures
The international crisis that followed the poisoning of ex-spy Sergei Skripal continued to worsen on Friday as Russia railed against the US for allegedly attempting to recruit its diplomats and the UK for searching a Russian plane in London.
The Russian Foreign Ministry claimed that after expelling 60 Russian diplomats earlier this week, the US had made “frantic efforts” to recruit them; it also said that British authorities had searched an Aeroflot plane in London without reason.
Those remarks came hours after Russia expelled diplomats from 23 countries in quid-pro-quo retaliation for the exile of its own envoys, and also demanded the UK further reduce its presence in Moscow.
According to the ministry, there was a “sharp increase in provocative actions against Russian diplomats” following the expulsion of the diplomats earlier this week.
It said American intelligence services had engaged in “frantic efforts” to make cooperation offers to the envoys, who were removed in solidarity with Britain, which says Russia was behind the poisoning of Skripal and his daughter in England. Russia denies the claim.
The ministry described the alleged US overtures as “cynical and disgusting”, and said that the recruitment attempts had failed.