An interpreter invited into Downing Street during a meeting between Theresa May and Ukrainian PM Volodymyr Groysman has been arrested on suspicion of being a Russian spy.
Stanislav Yezhov was detained on Wednesday and accused of working for Moscow, the Financial Times reports.
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The spying claim “presents an awkward situation” for Prime Minister Theresa May and for Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who is flying to Moscow today for talks with his Russian counterpart, the FT says.
Groysman met May at 10 Downing Street on 5 July, when they discussed security, Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea, and Russian sanctions, according to the UK government briefing paper describing the meeting.
Asked about the spying allegation during a press conference today in Poland, where she is attending a summit, 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 has been taken is a matter for the Ukrainian authorities.”
The BBC’s Jonah Fisher posted a photo of Yezhov leaving Downing Street with Ukraine’s PM, and said that Yezhov had also met then US vice president Joe Biden in 2016.
Sky News defence correspondent Alistair Bunkall tweeted a video showing Yezhov with May in Downing Street.
Yezhov, 39, has worked for the Ukrainian embassies in Slovenia and the US as well as translating for the Ukrainian PM, the Kyiv Post reports.