US Expels 12 Russian UN Diplomats for "Involvement in Spy Activities"

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] On the 28th (local time), the U.S. government notified 12 diplomats affiliated with the Russian Mission to the United Nations of their expulsion. The reason was their involvement in espionage activities, which is incompatible with their status as diplomats residing in the U.S.

According to CNN, the U.S. Mission to the United Nations stated in a press release on the same day, "We are initiating the process to expel 12 intelligence officers of the Russian Mission who abused the privileges of residing in the U.S. by engaging in espionage activities against our national security."

The U.S. Mission added, "This action is taken in accordance with the UN Headquarters Agreement" and "has been ongoing for several months."

Richard Mills, Deputy Ambassador of the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, also confirmed, "They engaged in conduct inconsistent with the responsibilities and duties of diplomats."

However, Russia is protesting. Vasily Nebenzya, Russian Ambassador to the United Nations, held a press conference at the UN Headquarters in New York on the same day, stating, "The U.S. authorities have taken hostile actions against the Russian Mission," revealing this fact for the first time. He said that the Russian Mission diplomats were notified to leave by March 7, criticizing it as "a serious violation of the Host Country Agreement between the UN and the U.S." Ambassador Nebenzya will step down from the Security Council presidency in February.

Recently, the U.S. and Russia have been in conflict by expelling each other's senior diplomats. On the 17th, after Russia expelled Bart Gorman, Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, the U.S. notified Sergey Trepelkov, Minister-Counselor at the Russian Embassy in Washington, on the 24th to leave the U.S.

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