A Russian diplomat has had their accreditation revoked by the UK in a tit-for-tat move after Moscow expelled a British official last year.
Russian ambassador to the UK Andrey Kelin was summoned to the Foreign Office to be informed of the move by the Government.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We have summoned the Russian ambassador for a meeting with a senior British official to revoke the accreditation of a Russian diplomat.
“This is in response to Russia’s unprovoked and baseless decision to strip the accreditation of a British diplomat in Moscow in November.
“The UK will not stand for intimidation of our staff in this way and so we are taking reciprocal action.
“Any further action taken by Russia will be considered an escalation and responded to accordingly.”
It comes after Russia expelled a British diplomat in November and accused him of spying.
The FSB claimed he had provided false information to enter the country, according to a report by the Tass news agency.
It said it had found evidence the diplomat was involved in "reconnaissance and subversive work that threatens the security of the Russian Federation".
The diplomat worked at the embassy in Moscow and had replaced one of six British intelligence officers who were expelled in August, it said.
The Foreign Office at the time said Russia's accusation that those diplomats were spies was "baseless" and that the expulsions were part of a campaign to deter the UK's support for Ukraine.
