The US: Never accept it!, Russia expels two US diplomats
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the expulsion of two American diplomats.
According to Reuters, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the 14th the expulsion of two American diplomats, claiming that they have maintained contact with a Russian suspected of cooperating with foreign countries. The US later responded that Russia's move lacked basis, and the US State Department will summon the Russian Ambassador to the US on this matter.
Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Two US diplomats engaged in illegal activities in Russia
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on the same day, stating that it summoned US Ambassador to Russia Lynn Tracy and submitted a note to him. The Russian side pointed out that the actions of the first secretary of the US Embassy, Jeffrey Seilin, and the second secretary, David Bernstein, do not match the identity of diplomatic personnel. They declared these two US diplomats as "unwelcome people" and demanded that they leave within seven days.
![The US: Never accept it!, Russia expels two US diplomats](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/ec254e9be4e34d03dcb4b36caf71ea59.png)
The statement stated that these two US diplomats engaged in illegal activities in Russia and maintained contact with Russian citizen Robert Shonov. The latter has been accused of secretly cooperating with foreign countries to carry out tasks that harm Russia's national security in order to obtain material rewards. The statement stated that the illegal activities of the US diplomatic representative to Russia, including interference in the internal affairs of the host country, are unacceptable and will be resolutely stopped. The Russian side hopes that Washington can draw the correct conclusion and avoid taking confrontational measures.
The US Embassy in Russia: We will never accept an appropriate response
Regarding Russia's move, the US Embassy in Russia issued a statement stating: "On September 14th, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed Ambassador Tracy of the decision to declare two diplomats unwelcome. Russia will expel diplomats for no reason, and we will not accept this practice." The US Embassy also stated that "the US will respond appropriately.".
The US State Department, on the other hand, stated that Russia's move lacks basis and will summon Russian Ambassador to the US Antonov to respond to the expulsion of two US diplomats.
![The US: Never accept it!, Russia expels two US diplomats](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/6e89bad9402dccf9c5bf82b6a1250c6a.png)
According to reports, Shonov was employed by the US Consulate General in Vladivostok, Russia for 25 years. The Russian Federal Security Agency arrested Shonov in May this year, accusing him of transmitting information to the United States about how the Russian conscription movement caused political dissatisfaction before the 2024 Russian presidential election. The United States strongly condemns this.