Foreign Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
Further development of the situation with extradition of the diplomats is not Russia's responsibility, S Lavrov states. Russian Foreign Minister has reminded about a reciprocity principle existing in the world of diplomacy, RT reports. According to the minister, nobody cancelled this principle so far. He has stressed out that the principle is to be applied consistently and a party who triggered off this process must stop first.
“So, we put it like in our childhood – the one who started the game, must stop first. We would not like to play children’s games, but our partners are doing exactly like this,” Lavrov said.
Earlier the Russian diplomats were reported to leave the General Consulate of the Russian Federation in Seattle and the US State Department was informed on its closure.
Note that Washington made a decision to expel 60 Russian diplomats from the US. 12 of the diplomats worked at the Russian Permanent Representative Office to UN in New York. Besides, the White House closed the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Seattle.
Russia responded with extradition of the American diplomats and shutting down the US Consulate General in Saint Petersburg.
Russkiy Mir
