Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation

On September 2, US authorities seized the buildings of the General Consulate of the Russian Federation in San Francisco and the Trade Representation in Washington, D.C., which are the property of Russia and have a diplomatic immunity. Russian representatives are also being denied access to the rented premises of the Trade Representation in New York.

This outrageous move is in line with actual expropriation of Russia-owned countryside residences near Washington, D.C. and New York last December. At present, the US special services supported by armed police are in control of the seized buildings.

We treat these developments as a blatantly hostile act, a grave violation by Washington of international law, including the Vienna Conventions on Diplomatic and Consular Relations and the bilateral Convention on Consular Relations.

We urge the US authorities to come to their senses and to immediately return the Russian diplomatic facilities. Otherwise the USA will bear the total blame for the ongoing degradation of the relations between our countries, on which the current condition of the global stability and international security largely depends.