US authorities didn't let Russian Embassy workers to remove archives from San Francisco consulate that
was closed at the beginning of September, TASS reports.
As the Foreign Ministry stated, despite protests of Russian diplomatic mission the archive was independently packed and removed to Washington by US officials.
Russian diplomats have reminded that all consular archives should be inviolable irrespective of their location. They have stressed that it is not the first time American authorities violate the key provisions of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and bilateral consular convention.
This step is perceived by Moscow as “disregard for the international law and the Russian diplomatic mission, which enables Moscow to take retaliatory measures,” the Russian Embassy noted.
It's worth mentioning that several days ago Russian flags were removed from diplomatic properties in San Francisco and Washington. As the US State official explained the flags were “taken down and safely stored within buildings.”
Let us remind that he US State Department decision to close Russian mission in San Francisco was made “in the spirit of parity,” answering the seizure of US diplomatic staff in Russia by 755 people as a result of anti-Russian sanctions.
The U.S. special services searched the Russian consulate building and also San Francisco apartments used by Russian diplomats and their families. Some of these actions are recorded, photos and footage proving the US intrusion in the closed Russian consulate are posted online.
Russkiy Mir
