Russian diplomats gained access to restricted areas of the Houses of Parliament in a “major” security breach last month, it has emerged.
Just before Christmas, a small group of dignitaries on a public tour of the Palace of Westminster snuck off to an out-of-bounds area, before being discovered and turfed out by security personnel, The Guardian reports.
A source told the newspaper: “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,” they added.
Ministers are said to have been left alarmed by the breach – and as a result, MPs and peers alike have been given a clear written warning not to invite Vladimir Putin’s diplomats to Westminster, with the speakers of both houses reminding Parliamentarians of a ban on the country’s officials which has been in place since 2022.
Putin’s dignitaries snuck off to an out-of-bounds area in Parliament
GETTY
It remains unclear whether the group were on a guided tour sponsored by a politician, or if they requested one from the Parliamentary visitors’ service.
Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, and Lords counterpart Lord McFall of Alcluith, wrote to MPs and peers this week 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,” the pair wrote in separate letters.
“As the formally accredited representative of the Russian government, the Russian ambassador should not be welcomed onto the Parliamentary estate until further notice.
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Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle wrote to MPs to remind them of the rules on letting Russian personnel roam around the Palace of Westminster
PA
“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.”
Putin’s representatives have been barred from Parliament since shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, in a tit-for-tat exchange with Russia, which has sanctioned a range of British MPs and peers.
Putin’s representatives have been barred from Parliament since shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022
REUTERS
The warnings come after Chatham House’s Russian military expert Keir Giles raised the prospect of further Russian sabotage in the West – this time, on civilians through covert attacks on air travel and cargo planes.
Giles told the Metro that the public is “likely” to be victims in Putin’s “hidden war” against Europe in retaliation for Western support for Ukraine – while Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has accused Russia of planning “acts of terrorism” in the air against Poland and other countries.
Suspicious packages have also been found on cargo planes in Germany and Poland.
“Previously, Russia has sponsored terrorist movements which carried out armed attacks against European countries throughout the Cold War,” Giles said.
“Now with these airline parcel plots, the willingness from Russia to cause mass casualties has returned.”
