Theresa May 'aware' of claims that Russian spy visited her at No 10

Theresa May made the admission at a press conference in Poland
EPA
Patrick Grafton-Green21 December 2017
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Theresa May says she is aware that a senior Ukrainian interpreter who visited Downing Street has been arrested over allegations he is a Russian spy.

The Prime Minister made the admission during a press conference in Poland after a photograph emerged of her with Stanislav Yezhov in No 10.

Mr Yezhov, an interpreter for the Ukrainian cabinet, was detained by the country's police on Thursday.

The Security Service of Ukraine said they arrested him for acting "in the interests" of the "aggressor" after being recruited by Russian intelligence agencies.

Stanislav Yezhov, who was detained on Thursday
REUTERS

Mr Yezhov reportedly accompanied Ukrainian prime minister Volodymyr Groysman on a visit to London in July.

Asked about the arrest, Mrs May said: "I'm aware of the reports in relation to the Ukrainian individual who attended Downing Street earlier in the summer.

"The action that's been taken is a matter for the Ukrainian authorities."

Ukraine's security service said Mr Yezhov acted "on the orders" of Russia to collect information "about the activities of government structures", with the help of "special equipment".

The official gave data to the Russians through "electronic channels of communication".

Mr Yezhov's home and workplace are now being searched by Ukrainian security services, they indicated.

The revelation came as Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson travelled to Moscow for a meeting with Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on Friday.

It comes at a time when relations between Moscow and the West are at their coolest for several decades.

Mrs May attacked Russia for "weaponising information" as she announced a UK-Poland defence treaty.

"The Kremlin is seeking to undermine the international rules-based system, and it will not succeed," she said.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We are aware of reporting about the arrest of Stanislav Yezhov in Ukraine.

"We can neither confirm or deny the allegations against him. It is not our practice to comment on legal proceedings in other jurisdictions."

Mrs May's spokesman told a Westminster briefing: "Security at Downing Street is kept permanently under review."

Asked whether he would raise the issue of the alleged spy during talks with Mr Lavrov in Moscow on Friday, Mr Johnson said: "I think that is a matter for the Ukrainians.

"We want Ukraine to go on the right path and we are worried that Ukraine needs more encouragement, more help, to reform, to make sure it isn't captured by the wrong influences.

"I think possibly what this episode shows is the real difficulties and risks that the Ukrainian government is running. They need a lot of encouragement."

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