Arrr! Russia be sendin' two scallywag US diplomats packin' for their scurvy 'illegal activity'. Walk the plank, mateys!
2023-09-14
Arr, the scallywag Russia be castin' out two U.S. diplomats, claimin' they be colludin' with a matey from their land who be facin' charges fer workin' with a foreign state! Avast, what a tale!
Russia's Foreign Ministry has declared two U.S. diplomats "persona non grata" and ordered them to leave the country within seven days for allegedly being involved in "illegal activity." The ministry claims that the diplomats were in contact with a former employee of the U.S. Consulate in Vladivostok who was arrested earlier this year for collecting information about Russia's military action in Ukraine. U.S. Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy was summoned to the ministry and informed of the expulsion. The Russian Foreign Ministry emphasized that illegal activities and interference in the internal affairs of the host country by the U.S. diplomatic mission are unacceptable.Russia's move to expel the diplomats has been met with criticism from the U.S. State Department, which accuses Russia of choosing confrontation over diplomatic engagement. The U.S. Embassy in Moscow rejects the reason for the expulsion and condemns Russia's ongoing attempts to intimidate and harass U.S. embassy employees.
The arrest of the former U.S. consulate employee, Robert Shonov, was reported last month by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB). Shonov was accused of gathering information about Russia's military operations and mobilization processes. The FSB also claimed to have served summonses to question two U.S. diplomats who allegedly instructed Shonov to collect the information. The U.S. State Department condemned Shonov's arrest, stating that the allegations were without merit.
Shonov was charged under a new Russian law that criminalizes cooperation with foreign entities aimed against Russia's security. Critics argue that the law is broad and can be used to punish any Russian with foreign connections. The State Department sees the use of this law against Shonov as a sign of the Russian government's repressive actions against its own citizens.
The U.S. consulate in Vladivostok, where Shonov worked for over 25 years, closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and has not reopened.