Expelled Soviets Leave Britain, Deny Spying

Thirty-one Soviet diplomats and journalists ordered out of Britain left with their families today, saying allegations that they spied for Moscow were “rhubarb.”

The Russians, carrying garlands of red carnations, drove in a luxury bus from the Soviet Embassy in central London to Gatwick Airport, where they boarded a special Aeroflot flight for Moscow.

Sergei Volovets, a correspondent for the Novosti press agency, took home an unusual parting gift--a parking ticket plastered to the windshield of his car.

One Soviet trade official who declined to be named denied the diplomats had been spying and said, “I think you know the saying: ‘Rhubarb’.”

“Rhubarb” is a slang expression in Britain meaning “rubbish.”

Information From Defector

The British government this month ordered the expulsion of 25 alleged Soviet spies and gave them three weeks to leave. The order was based on information provided by Oleg Gordievski, a former KGB London bureau chief who recently defected.

Moscow threw out 25 Britons in retaliation, prompting Britain to expel a further six Soviets from London. Moscow then ordered out another six Britons and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher called an end to the tit-for-tat expulsions.

Volovets said the expulsions by Britain were designed to aggravate relations between East and West in advance of the November summit meeting between Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev and President Reagan in Geneva.

“I am quite sure that this unfortunate episode will be overcome and relations will be improved in the future,” Volovets said.