In a rare and significant move by the British government, a former police officer has become the first British national to be stripped of his citizenship on national security grounds specifically due to his links to Russia. The decision marks a sharp escalation in the UK’s approach to “hostile state activity,” targeting an individual whose lifelong fascination with the Soviet Union evolved into a professional and personal alignment with the Kremlin.
Mark Bullen, 45, was deprived of his British documents in October 2025 by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, shortly after she assumed office. The move follows a series of security interventions and a decade-long residency in St Petersburg, where Bullen has integrated himself into the Russian state’s professional apparatus.
Bullen, originally from Bracknell in Berkshire, had previously served for more than a decade with the Hertfordshire Constabulary. His transition from a British law enforcement officer to a Russian citizen—a “lifelong dream” he achieved by obtaining a Russian passport in 2022—has now placed him in the crosshairs of the UK’s counterterrorism and intelligence services.
Mark Bullen, a former policeman, has had his passport revoked on national security grounds(Image: Getty Images)
A Timeline of Allegiance and Intervention
The road to Bullen’s loss of citizenship began years ago with a childhood obsession with the Soviet Union. This fascination eventually led him to relocate to Russia, where he has lived for nearly 12 years. During his time in St Petersburg, Bullen’s ties to the Russian state deepened; he participated in a month-long police exchange trip where he met with senior Russian officers and eventually secured a role in communications for Zenit St Petersburg, a football club owned by the state-controlled energy giant Gazprom.
The British government’s suspicion reached a critical point in late 2024. On November 12, 2024, Bullen was intercepted by counterterrorism officers at Luton airport after arriving on a flight from Turkey. Using powers granted under Schedule 3 of the Counterterrorism and Border Security Act 2019, officers detained him and seized his digital devices for examination. While no arrest was made at the time, the Metropolitan Police—the lead agency for hostile state cases—confirmed he was questioned on suspicion of involvement in hostile activity on behalf of a foreign state.
Bullen has since shared a letter online detailing the Home Office’s decision to strip him of his citizenship, stating that the move was deemed “conductive to the public good.” However, the specific evidence supporting this claim remains classified. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood explicitly warned that the contents of the decision “should not be made public in the interests of national security.”
The ex-copper’s passport was revoked by Shabana Mahmood a month after she became Home Secretary(Image: PA)
Propaganda and the ‘Spy’ Narrative
While Bullen denies any wrongdoing, his public profile suggests a deep ideological commitment to the current Russian administration. His social media accounts have been characterized by a steady stream of pro-Kremlin and anti-Ukraine propaganda, aligning with the official narratives emanating from Moscow.
In a recent interview, Bullen spoke candidly about his lifelong affinity for the Soviet era, noting that his obsession was so pronounced that friends and family members in the UK had frequently joked, “You’re a spy.” What was once a domestic joke has now become the central theme of a national security case.
Beyond his professional role at Zenit St Petersburg, Bullen’s personal life is deeply rooted in Russia. He is married to a Russian national and together they have four children. Despite these ties, he had frequently returned to the UK to visit family, a pattern of travel that likely facilitated the 2024 airport intervention.
Bullen now lives in St Petersburg, where he works in communications for Zenit St Petersburg(Image: UEFA via Getty Images)
The Legal Weight of Citizenship Deprivation
The deprivation of British citizenship is a powerful and controversial legal tool. The Home Office maintains that this action is reserved for the most extreme circumstances to protect the UK from “dangerous people” and “hostile state activity.”
In an official statement, a Home Office spokesperson emphasized the gravity of such decisions: “Deprivation of British citizenship is a vital tool used to protect the UK from some of the most dangerous people, including those involved in terrorism, hostile state activity, or serious organised crime. Deprivation decisions are never taken lightly, but this government will always take whatever action is necessary to keep our country safe.”
| Year/Date | Event | Context/Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| ~2013 | Move to Russia | Relocated to St Petersburg; began long-term residency. |
| 2022 | Russian Citizenship | Obtained Russian passport, fulfilling a “lifelong dream.” |
| Nov 12, 2024 | Luton Airport Stop | Detained by CT officers; digital devices seized. |
| Oct 2025 | Citizenship Revoked | Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stripped British citizenship. |
The case of Mark Bullen highlights the increasing tension between personal ideological freedom and national security. For the UK government, the combination of a former law enforcement background, a high-level role in a Gazprom-owned entity and the active promotion of hostile state propaganda created a risk profile that outweighed the right to maintain British nationality.
As the UK continues to monitor hostile state actors, the next phase of this case will likely depend on whether Bullen chooses to challenge the deprivation in court or remains as a citizen of the Russian Federation. Official updates regarding any legal appeals or further security findings are expected to be channeled through the Home Office.
Do you believe the deprivation of citizenship is an appropriate tool for combating hostile state influence? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
