US security services are planning to search the Russian consulate in San Francisco on Saturday September 2nd, the Russian foreign ministry has said.
The searches will include the apartments of diplomatic missions.
Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said: “Alongside the yet another raid on expensive objects of Russian state property, which [the US] have blocked and are now persistently offering us to put on sale, this time the orders of the US authorities pose a direct threat to security of Russian citizens”
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Russian personnel were given just 12 hours to evacuate the places they have been calling home, even though this includes children and in some cases babies.
RT reports:
The searches will be carried out not just in the offices but also in the apartments of the staff who live in the building and have immunity, she said.
US performs ‘individual breakdance’ instead of paired tango – Lavrov https://t.co/tx84ctsbJW
— RT (@RT_com) September 1, 2017
To perform those searches, the US authorities have ordered those staff members and their families, including children and even babies, to leave their homes for up to 12 hours.
“We are talking about an invasion in the consulate office and homes of diplomatic staff, who themselves are being ousted not to disturb FBI agents,” Zakharova stated.
On Thursday, the US demanded that Russia shut down its Consulate General in San Francisco and two other diplomatic facilities in New York City and Washington, DC by September 2.
Commenting on the closure of Russian diplomatic facilities, Zakharova said it “represents a new gross violation of international law, including US obligations under the Vienna Conventions on diplomatic and consular relations.”
Moscow adamantly opposes the US State Department’s decision to close down three Russian diplomatic compounds in the US, she added.
