Russia summons US diplomat over search

MOSCOW — The Russian Foreign Ministry summoned Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy Anthony Godfrey on Saturday and protested US intentions to search a Russian diplomatic property in Washington.

The Russian ministry said US authorities sought to search the Russian trade representative compound, which was closed on Saturday, in addition to the Russian Consulate General in San Francisco and a consular office in New York City.

“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 antiRussian provocation.

It urged the United States 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 will directly threaten the safety of Russian citizens and worsen already difficult bilateral relations.

The US State Department on Thursday ordered Russia to close the three facilities by Saturday in retaliation for the Russian decision in July to cut the number of US diplomatic staff by 755 people and seize two US properties in Moscow.

The US disputed Moscow’s claims that US officials had threatened to “break down the entrance door” to one of the facilities, and that the FBI was “clearing the premises”.

A senior State Department official said that US officials had joined Russian Embassy personnel for walkthroughs of the three buildings.

“These inspections were carried out to secure and protect the facilities and to confirm the Russian government had vacated the premises,” the official said in a statement emailed on Saturday.