On 16 May a representative of the British Embassy in Moscow was summoned to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to whom a strong protest was lodged in connection with the unfriendly and groundless decision taken on 8 May by the authorities of that country with regard to the Defence Attaché at the Russian Embassy in London. We stressed that we regard this step as a politically motivated action with a pronounced Russophobic character, which is causing irreparable damage to bilateral relations.
The British diplomat was informed that in response to this decision the Defence Attaché at the British Embassy in Moscow, A.T. Coghill, was declared ‘persona non grata’. He is to leave the territory of the Russian Federation within a week.
Our reaction to the unfriendly anti-Russian actions of the British side announced on 8 May is not exhausted by this measure. The initiators of the escalation will be informed of further retaliatory steps.
