🇷🇺🇺🇸 Ambassador Anatoly Antonov’s answer to a media question

❓: Dear Ambassador Antonov, how could you comment
on the anniversary of the illegal actions of the U.S. authorities against
the Russian diplomatic property, located in Washington, D.C.
and San Francisco, California?

💬 Anatoly Antonov: On August 31, 2017, exactly 6 years ago, the Administration took a new round of unprecedented measures to restrict the activities of Russian diplomatic and consular missions in the United States and, in fact, further curtail bilateral ties. In the form of an ultimatum it demanded us to close in two days the Consulate General in San Francisco - one of the largest institutions providing visa, notary and other consular services to citizens of Russia and the United States. Simultaneously, we were groundlessly ordered to cease the activities of the Trade Representation in Washington, D.C.

📌 The U.S. authorities in a raider-like manner blocked access to the sovereign Russian property, waiving diplomatic immunity. The same actions had been previously taken with respect to our property in the states of Maryland, New York, and subsequently in Washington.

📌 The United States flagrantly violated fundamental norms
of international law, including the Vienna Conventions on diplomatic and consular relations, as well as bilateral Consular Convention of 1964. In addition, the U.S. authorities flouted their own legislation, encroaching on the principle of inviolability of private property, guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.

📌 We are cynically told that, according to the documents, Russia has not been deprived of ownership title to the real estate assets - just "banned from using them". There is a pseudo-legitimate attempt to juggle basic legal concepts.

📌 All this happened under the pretext of alleged Russian interference in U.S. elections. There was a ridiculous cacophony in the public domain, along with insinuations that the premises taken from us had been used for spying activities. However, the diplomatic notes of the State Department contain no such reference. Subsequently, a high-profile report of the special counsel Robert Mueller confirmed the fictitious and false nature of these accusations.

📌 Thus, after years of slandering, no real evidence has been presented to us in support of U.S. claims. The case of "Donald Trump's collusion with Moscow" fell apart, but all the imposed sanctions are still there.

📌 Over the past 6 years, the Embassy has sent hundreds of diplomatic notes to the State Department regarding access to the real estate assets owned by the Russian Federation, at least to determine their technical condition. Each has been rejected.

📌 We demand Washington to stop the bacchanalia, comply with international obligations and return every single piece of diplomatic property in the United States stolen from us.