US dismisses 12 from Russia's mission to UN

PTI

United Nations, March 1

The US has expelled 12 diplomats from Russia’s mission to the UN, saying they engaged in “espionage activities”, a move which Moscow described as a “hostile action” and gross violation of the commitments by the US as host country of the United Nations headquarters.

US Mission to the United Nations spokesperson Olivia Dalton said that the US had informed the United Nations and the Russian Permanent Mission to the United Nations that “we are beginning the process of expelling 12 intelligence operatives from the Russian Mission who have abused their privileges of residency in the US by engaging in espionage activities”.

“We are taking this action in accordance with the UN Headquarters Agreement. This action has been in development for several months,” said Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia while addressing an end of Presidency press conference at the UN Headquarters when he got a telephone call, informing him of the expulsion of his diplomats by the US.

Russia was President of the 15-nation Security Council for February. “This is sad news and another demonstration of gross disrespect to the host country agreement, to US commitments within the framework of their obligations,” Nebenzia said. —

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