Russia protests to US ‘shameful’ theft of consulate flags

MOSCOW: Russia protested to the US on Wednesday after it said Russian flags were stolen from its consulate in San Francisco, a charge that Washington immediately disputed.

Russian staff left the consulate last month after Washington ordered Moscow to vacate some of its diplomatic properties, part of a series of tit-for-tat actions as relations sour between the two countries.

US officials have since occupied administrative parts of the compound. Russia said last week they had broken into residential areas and it threatened retaliation over what it called an illegal act.

“The latest shameful event. In San Francisco ( Russian) flags have been stolen from the building of # ConsulRussiaSF,” the Russian embassy to the US said on its Russian-language Twitter account.

“We demand the American authorities return our state symbols,” it said alongside pictures of a bare fl agpole on top of the consulate building.

The US State Department offered a different account of events.

“The flags at the former Russian consular properties in San Francisco were respectfully lowered and are safely stored within each of the buildings,” a State Department official said in an email. — Reuters