Politics
09:03, 03-Sep-2017
Russia vacates three properties in US and summons US diplomat to protest
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Russian diplomats vacated three properties in the US on Saturday including the six-story consulate in San Francisco, complying with a US order issued in retaliation for Moscow cutting the American diplomatic presence in Russia.
The US State Department said the Russian government had complied with the order to shutter those operations by Saturday and said no diplomats were being expelled as a result of the closures.
"Russia will no longer be permitted to use these facilities for diplomatic or consular purposes," a department official said.
A "closed" sign is seen on the Russian Consulate building in San Francisco, California, Sept. 1, 2017. /Reuters Photo
A "closed" sign is seen on the Russian Consulate building in San Francisco, California, Sept. 1, 2017. /Reuters Photo
Diplomatic tensions upgrade
Russia's foreign ministry said on Saturday it had summoned a US diplomat in Moscow to protest US intentions to search a Russian diplomatic property in Washington, DC.
The Russian ministry said US authorities sought to search the Russian trade representative compound, which was closed on Saturday.
"We consider the planned illegitimate search of the Russian diplomatic facility without the presence of Russian officials and a threat to break down its front door as an unprecedented, aggressive action," said the ministry in a statement.
The ministry also expressed worries that US intelligence agents during the search may plant items in the Russian compound and organize an anti-Russian provocation.
It urged the US to stop the "gross violations" of international law and the encroachment on the immunity of Russia's diplomatic institutions.
The US security services also intend to search Russia's Consulate General in San Francisco, which the Russian Foreign Ministry said Friday will directly threaten the safety of Russian citizens and worsen already difficult bilateral relations.
"Accusations made by the Russian government, including that US officials threatened to break down doors in the relevant properties or that the FBI is clearing the premises, are untrue," the US Department of State said in a statement.
Source(s): Reuters
,Xinhua News Agency