The UK’s Special Immigration Appeals Commission has denied the appeal of an Afghan-born man to retain his British citizenship, following its revocation on the grounds he was allegedly a Russian spy. This judgment was delivered this Friday.
The appellant, referred to as C2, was born in Afghanistan but temporarily relocated to Russia to avoid drafting. He wed a Russian woman, and they claimed asylum in Britain in 2000. He was conferred citizenship in 2007, following which he served Britain in Afghanistan. C2’s citizenship was rescinded according to section 40(2) of the British Nationality Act 1981 as he was construed as being an “agent of the Russian Military Intelligence Service (GRU) and pose[d] a threat to UK national security.”
The appeal was pursued under section 2B of the Special Immigration Appeals Act 1997 on twin grounds: the decision was irrational and procedurally unjust as C2 wasn’t given an opportunity present his case deeming it a violation of natural justice.
However, the court denied the appeal, reasoning that C2 was an uneasy witness with non-conforming accounts of how he reached Russia. It concluded that the judgement of the Secretary of State for the Home Department (SSHD) was “amply justified” that C2 was a GRU agent as of September 2019, based on the evidence provided.
Bearing in mind the strained relationship between the UK and Russia over recent accusations of Russian espionage, UK Home Secretary James Cleverly announced on Wednesday that the nation will expel a “undeclared” Russian military intelligence officer charged with espionage.