Russia To Expel 23 UK Diplomats In Spy Row

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Russia is to expel 23 British diplomats amid tensions over the nerve agent attack on a former spy and his daughter in the UK. The Russian foreign ministry said staff from the UK's Moscow embassy would be expelled within a week.

It also said it would close the British Council in Russia, which promotes cultural ties between the nations, and the British Consulate in St Petersburg. The move comes in response to Britain's decision to expel 23 Russian diplomats.

They were ordered to leave over the incident on 4 March which the UK government has blamed on Russia - but which Russia denies.

The UK Foreign Office said in a statement that it had "anticipated a response of this kind" from Russia and the National Security Council would meet early next week to consider its next steps.