US closes Russian consulate in Seattle and expel 60 diplomats

The US authorities have decided to send Russian diplomats from the country to 60, and also to close the Russian consulate in Seattle. About this on Monday at a special briefing said the representative of the American administration of high rank, writes TASS.

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According to him, “today President Donald Trump ordered the expulsion of dozens” of diplomats, whom he called “Russian intelligence officers,” from the United States “and the closure of the Russian consulate in Seattle.”

Such a decision on the consulate was made due to its territorial proximity to the military base of submarines, as well as to the plant of the corporation Boeing in Seattle (WA).

48 diplomats and an additional 12 members of the permanent mission of the Russian Federation to the UN in New York will be expelled. At the same time, speaking about the employees of the permanent mission to the UN, the administration representative also claimed that they were allegedly engaged in intelligence activities, and the expulsion process was initiated “for abusing their right of residence under the headquarters agreement” of the organization.

According to the prescription, the expelled employees must leave the country within seven days.

Note that the Consular District of the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Seattle includes the states and territories: Idaho, Iowa, Alaska, Wyoming, Washington, Hawaii, North Dakota, South Dakota, California, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, as well as Guam, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands.

In the USA, the consular district of the Embassy and the consulate in New York and in Houston are now left.

Additionally, an administration official stressed at the briefing that “the United States is taking these actions in coordination with NATO allies and partners in response to Russia’s use of military-grade chemical weapons on British soil.”

"Today's actions will secure the United States and weaken Russia's ability to spy on Americans and conduct covert operations that threaten American national security," he added.

At the same time, Washington expressed its intention to leave the door open for dialogue with Moscow.

“The United States is willing to work with Russia to improve relations, but this can only happen after a change in the behavior of the Russian government,” the administration official said.

It is also reported that the US government supports the decision of the British authorities not to transfer to Moscow samples of the chemical compound that Skripal was poisoned with.

"Let me just say that we support the UK's decision not to provide such samples," he said.

Note that in addition to the United States, other European countries have also declared their intention to send Russian diplomats in solidarity with Britain. 13 Russian diplomats will leave Ukraine, Canada, Poland, Germany and France each, three each - the Czech Republic and Lithuania, two each - Denmark, Italy and the Netherlands, one each - Croatia, Romania, Latvia, Estonia and Finland.

According to the head of the European Council, Donald Tusk, the decision to expel Russian diplomats was supported by 14 EU member states.

Recall, the former GRU officer Sergey Skripal and his daughter Julia were found unconscious on a bench in Salisbury March 4. They were taken to the hospital in critical condition, they are still in a coma, doctors estimate their condition as consistently severe. The police found that they were poisoned nerve agent. About 20 people were poisoned, including the policeman who first visited the scene and the house of Skripal. On the fact of poisoning a case of attempted murder.

In Russia, Skripal was convicted in 2006 for spying for British intelligence. In 2010, he was exchanged for Russian intelligence agents uncovered in the United States.

After investigating, Britain came to the conclusion that the nerve agent of the new generation of the group called “Rookie” was used for poisoning. Since no country other than Russia had access to this substance, London declared that Russia was most likely responsible for the attempt. Prime Minister Teresa May ultimately demanded an explanation from Moscow.

The authorities rejected the suspicion of involvement in the crime and refused to respond to the ultimatum, demanding to provide official information about the case.

In response to this Britain announces expulsion of Russian diplomats from 23which, according to London, are working for Russian intelligence.

Meanwhile, the Russian Embassy in the United States polls on Twitter: which US consulate to close in Russia. Read and watch how people vote on this.

Read also on ForumDaily:

In the blood of Skripal found the substance "Novice"

The family of Sergey Skripal was torn by scandals: Julia's boyfriend was implicated in them

In Britain, proposed a new version of the poisoning of Skripal

Russian developer of the substance that poisoned Skripal who emigrated to the USA spoke about the future of the ex-spy

Disclosed agents and 100 of thousands of dollars in fees: for what they were trying to Squeal

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