UK Diplomats Accused of Spying on Russia

Andrew Woodcock, PA
Independent, UK
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Russia's state security service, the FSB, has accused British diplomats in Moscow of spying, it was reported today.
BBC reports said the FSB had confirmed claims broadcast last night on Russian TV that British agents hid sophisticated spying equipment inside a fake rock and secretly passed money to non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
The Foreign Office declined to say this morning whether any official complaint had been received from the authorities in Moscow.
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See Also:
Moscow names British 'spies' in NGO row
Foreign Office rejects espionage claims against British diplomats
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But a spokesman said Britain was "concerned and suprised" by the TV allegations and denied any improper links with Russian NGOs. Last night's programme, broadcast on state television, included interviews with people claiming to be Russian intelligence officers.
They alleged that British agents planted a transmitter in an imitation rock on a Moscow street. British embassy officials then walked past downloading data from the "rock's" transmitter. The programme said four officials from the British embassy and one Russian citizen, allegedly recruited by the British secret service, downloaded classified data from the rock's transmitter on to palm-top computers.
The Russian citizen was later arrested, it was reported.