UK diplomats accused of spying on Russia

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.

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.

Hidden camera footage appears to show individuals walking up to the rock. One man is caught on camera carrying it away.

The programme contained a number of interviews with officials claiming to be from the FSB, confirming the story.

The programme also alleged that one of the embassy officials involved had been authorising regular payments to Russian NGOs.

A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: "We are concerned and surprised at these allegations. We reject any allegation of improper conduct in our dealing with Russian NGOs.

"It is well known that the UK Government has financially supported projects implemented by Russian NGOs in the field of human rights and civil society.

"All our assistance is given openly and aims to support the development of a healthy civil society in Russia."

Russian president Vladimir Putin signed new legislation this month imposing tight restrictions on the financing and activities of NGOs.

His action came after the director of the FSB Sergei Lebedev claimed that US and other foreign spies were using charities and other groups in Russia to spy on the country and foment political upheaval in ex-Soviet republics.

The allegations follow reports last year that Russia had stepped up its spying operations in the UK.

A confidential document circulated widely within the Ministry of Defence apparently instructed staff to notify senior officials of any "chance sightings" of Russian diplomatic cars.

The document, leaked to the Sunday Telegraph in May, said: "We are aware that Russian intelligence officers travel widely throughout the UK and that some of the activity undertaken by these officers is intelligence-related.

"The Russian Federation Intelligence Services are assessed to pose a SUBSTANTIAL espionage threat to the UK."

An MoD spokesman said today that they did not comment on intelligence or security matters.