美国有线新闻 CNN 俄前间谍中毒引爆英俄外交风波 英国宣布驱逐俄罗斯外交官（在线收听）

The United Kingdom is kicking 23 Russian diplomats out of the country and suspending its high level communications with Russia. British Prime Minister Theresa May says this is the single biggest expulsion of Russian diplomats in more than three decades. So, why is it happening?

A former Russian spy who's 66 years old and lives in Britain was poisoned on March 4th, so he was his 33-year-old who was with him. They were apparently exposed to a nerve agent that's made in Russia. As of last night, both victims were still alive but in critical condition at a British hospital. A police officer who tried to help them was also still hospitalized.

Prime Minister May says her country has concluded that Russia is responsible for the attack and she says the removal of the Russian diplomats whom she described as undeclared intelligence officers will hurt Russia's ability to gather intelligence in the U.K. for years to come.

Russian government officials have called the accusations unfounded, and said that Russia had no motive in targeting the victims. Russia also says the British government, quote, made a choice in favor of confrontation with Russia instead of completing its own investigation. The relationship between Britain and Russia has been rocky since another former Russian spy was assassinated in Britain in 2006. These latest events are likely to make matters worse.