Moscow on MI5 Chief's Claims: Sad to See Professional Trapped in Propaganda

MI5 Director General Andrew Parker's allegations that Russia uses aggressive tactics to spread its agenda abroad indicate that the UK intelligence chief has been caught up in his own propaganda, the Russian embassy in the United Kingdom said Tuesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Earlier in the day, Parker said in an interview with The Guardian newspaper that Russia uses "increasingly aggressive" tactics, including "propaganda, espionage, subversion and cyberattacks," in pursuing its foreign policy abroad. The MI5 head claimed that Russia's activities in Ukraine and Syria prove that Moscow's foreign policy is directed against the West.

Director General of MI5 Parker interview for @Guardian: saddened to see a professional trapped to his own propaganda-created world pic.twitter.com/kw5QnUrzHq

— Russian Embassy, UK (@RussianEmbassy) 1 ноября 2016 г.

Moscow has also reacted to the publication, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stating that the allegations are unsubstantiated and lack any evidence backing them.

Since 2014, relations between Russia and the West, including the United Kingdom, have deteriorated amid the crisis in Ukraine. The United States, the European Union and some of their allies have introduced several rounds of anti-Russia sanctions after Crimea's reunification with Russia and Moscow's alleged involvement in the Ukrainian conflict.

UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson also threatened Russia and Syria with more sanctions in October after fighting escalated in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo.