London: Russian diplomats managed to gain access to restricted areas of Parliament despite being barred from the building.
The major security breach was revealed after MPs and peers were warned against extending invitations to officials from the country.
Anyone based at the Russian embassy in Londonhas been banned from visiting Parliament since 2022 after Moscow sanctioned UK politicians after the invasion of Ukraine.
Now the Speakers of the House of Commons and Lords have written to MPs and peers to remind them of these rules.
The Russian diplomats had visited Parliament just before Christmas, according to the Guardian.
They had joined a public tour of the building and then peeled off and made their way into a part of the House of Lords which is restricted to the public, it said.
Parliament security officers are reported to have then found them and escorted them out of the building, but the breach has prompted major concerns among ministers.
‘We suspect they were just wanting to crow to the Kremlin that they had infiltrated the British parliament.
‘It’s not ideal but they were caught before any damage was done,’ a parliamentary source told the paper.
The Speakers’ letter to politicians reminds them not to invite Russian diplomats to Parliament, though it is not known whether one sponsored the visit.
Anyone based at the Russian embassy in London – including the ambassador, diplomats and officials – have been barred from visiting Parliament since 2022.
The ban was put in place after many MPs and peers were sanctioned by Moscow after the invasion of Ukraine.
The Commons speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, and the Lords speaker, Lord McFall of Alcluith, wrote to MPs and peers yesterday to remind them of the rules.
‘With a number of new members joining the house recently, I would like to take this opportunity to remind colleagues of the ongoing arrangements which have been in place since the Russian invasion of Ukraine,’ they wrote.
As the formally accredited representative of the Russian government, the Russian ambassador should not be welcomed on to the parliamentary estate until further notice. This applies to all other Russian diplomats and officials at the Russian embassy accredited to the UK.’
A parliamentary spokesman said: ‘The safety and security of all those who work and visit in parliament is our top priority. However, we cannot comment on our security measures.’
Parliament is a major target for hostile foreign powers and there have been repeated questions about its security.
A former parliamentary researcher Chris Cash is due to stand trial for spying for China in breach of the Official Secrets Act this autumn.
Labour MP Barry Gardiner accepted large donations and employed the son of a woman accused of being a Chinese spy.
The Russian embassy has been contacted for comment.
(Courtesy: Daily Mail)
