FBI begins searching Russian diplomatic property in the US

On the morning of September 3 (Vietnam time), the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) began searching the Russian Trade Office in Washington despite Moscow's objections.

Staff of the Russian Consulate General in San Francisco, California (USA) move their belongings on September 2. Photo: Reuters

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova confirmed the information by posting on Facebook a photo of FBI agents present at Russia's office in the US.

The official Facebook page of the Russian Foreign Ministry also posted similar images. Ms. Zakharova affirmed that Russian diplomats will post full and complete images and videos of the so-called "justice" of the US when searching Russian diplomatic facilities, according to Russia Today.

The incident took place just hours after Russia handed over a diplomatic note of protest to a US diplomatic representative in Moscow.

On the evening of September 2 (Vietnam time), the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned the US Deputy Ambassador in Moscow, Mr. Anthony F. Godfrey, to hand over a diplomatic note protesting the plan to search the office of the Russian Trade Office.

In a statement on its official website, the Russian Foreign Ministry said the US government's plan to "illegally search" Moscow's diplomatic properties, including the office of the Russian Trade Commission, was an "unprecedented provocation".

The Russian Consulate General in San Francisco, California (USA) as well as the residences of diplomatic staff were searched.

To carry out this plan, US officials have asked consulate staff and their relatives, including children, to leave the building within 10-12 hours.

Diplomatic relations between Russia and the United States have become tense again after the US State Department, on August 31, requested Russia to close its Consulate General in San Francisco and two auxiliary facilities specializing in commercial activities in Washington and New York City.

This move is seen as a response to the Kremlin's request that the US reduce the number of diplomatic staff in Russia to the same level as the number of Russian diplomatic staff operating in the US.

Moscow announced that it would take appropriate countermeasures and did not rule out the possibility of continuing to reduce the number of US diplomatic staff in the country.

According to Tuoitre