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 United States by engaging in espionage activities that are adverse to our national security.”We are taking this action in accordance with the UN Headquarters Agreement. This action has been in development for several months.”Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia was 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 the month of February.“I just received the information that the US authorities have undertaken another hostile action against the Russian mission to the United Nations, grossly violating their commitments under the host country agreement. They told us they are announcing 12 people (UN diplomats) from the personnel of the Russian mission persona non grata and demanding that they leave by March 7,” Nebenzia said.
