India, March 10 -- Russia on Monday expelled two British diplomats from their embassy in Moscow for allegedly engaging in spying activities that threatened its security. The UK denied the accusations as "malicious and baseless".

State news agency RIA Novosti quoted Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) statement accusing the two British diplomats of providing false personal data while seeking permission to enter the country and of indulging in "alleged intelligence and subversive activities that threatened Russia's security."

Russia's Foreign Ministry said in a separate statement that it summoned a British embassy official. "Moscow will not tolerate the activities of undeclared British intelligence officers on Russian territory," it s...