The United States is expelling twelve Russian diplomats for security reasons. Russia’s permanent ambassador to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzia, told reporters on Monday that the diplomats involved would have to leave the United States by March 7.
Russia’s permanent ambassador to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzia, told reporters that Russia will respond to the move because it is a diplomatic maneuver.
Nebenzja also raised the issue at a meeting of the World Security Council (BTC) on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine. The Russian diplomat described the incident as a hostile act on the part of the United States, saying that the U.S. leadership had violated its obligations as the host of the United Nations headquarters in New York, as well as the Vienna treaties governing diplomatic and consular relations.
Richard Mills, the deputy US representative to the United Nations, responded that the diplomats who had been asked to leave had engaged in activities incompatible with their status.
“They have been asked to leave so that they cannot harm the national security of the host country.” Mills said, adding that the decision was made in accordance with the United Nations Headquarters Agreement.
Olivia Dalton, a spokeswoman for the US mission to the United Nations, described the Russian diplomats involved as “intelligence agents” who carried out activities harmful to the national security of the United States, that is, “espionage”. “This step was ready several months ago,” the spokesman added.
Western countries, including the United States, have imposed heavy sanctions on Russia for its attack on Ukraine.
