The Russian Embassy on Thursday slammed the U.S. for “unmotivated” and “hostile” actions after its ambassador was denied access to Russian diplomatic properties in the country.
“Promises made by the Assistant Secretary for Diplomatic Security Michael Evanoff that our properties are fine cannot be trusted,” the embassy said in a statement.
“Even in the better year the American side followed the trust but verify principle… Now it is time to verify first and trust second.”
Michael Evanoff told Sputnik earlier in the day that U.S. law enforcement was ensuring that Russia’s closed diplomatic properties remained “sacrosanct” and “secure.”
The Russian Embassy has several times requested access to the confiscated properties for a security check but was barred from entering.
“Such American stand is unacceptable. Our grave concern about the state of the Russian property remains.
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“The fact that the Russian Ambassador is not allowed to enter the buildings which belong to the Russian Federation are unmotivated.
“These hostile actions of the U.S. have neither logic, nor reason,” the embassy said.
The U.S. ordered Russia in August 2017 to close three sites in San Francisco, New York and Washington after the two countries traded punitive measures over what Washington claimed was Russian attempts to influence the 2016 presidential election.
After Russian staff left the compounds, security agents entered the premises to conduct searches.
Moscow said that U.S. actions constituted a breach of international laws.
(Sputnik/NAN)
