Russian diplomats were detained in the British Parliament.

The internal security of the parliamentary building expelled Russian diplomats from the chamber, stating that tours are not conducted there, writes the Guardian.

The British government took the incident very seriously, notes the BBC citing the newspaper. A letter was sent to members of both houses warning them not to invite diplomats from Russia into the Parliament building, even on a private basis.

The authors of the publication mention that it remains unclear whether the Russians attended a tour arranged by someone from the staff or the MPs themselves, or if the Russian diplomats purchased a ticket like ordinary tourists.

Representatives of the Russian state have been officially declared undesirable persons, persona non grata, since March 2022, and the Russian ambassador was notified in writing, writes the Guardian. In the letter sent to members of both houses on behalf of their chairs, Sir Lindsay Hoyle and Lord McFall, it is noted that "the current measures were taken following Russia's invasion of Ukraine."