Russian Diplomats Expelled from the US Return Home in Large Numbers

"Spy Activity Allegations"

Vasily Nebenzya, Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] Twelve diplomats from the Russian Mission to the United Nations, who were expelled from the United States on charges of espionage, along with their families, departed for home on the 6th (local time).

Russian news agency RIA reported that "about 50 Russian diplomats and their families left New York John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport and headed to Moscow" on the same day.

The U.S. government exceptionally approved a flight operated by a special flight unit sent by the Russian government for their return. Due to U.S. sanctions against Russia, Russian aircraft currently cannot enter U.S. airspace without U.S. government approval.

On the 28th of last month, the U.S. designated these diplomats as 'persona non grata' for involvement in espionage activities and ordered them to leave U.S. soil by the 7th.

Richard Mills, Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Mission to the UN, at the time stated that they were involved in activities inconsistent with their responsibilities and duties as diplomats and requested their dismissal.

Vasily Nebenzya, Russian Ambassador to the UN, criticized this, saying, "The U.S. authorities have committed another hostile act against the Russian Mission," calling it "a serious violation of the Headquarters Agreement between the UN and the United States."

Amid Russia's sudden invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. and Russia have recently been expelling senior diplomats from each other's countries, escalating tensions.

After Russia expelled Bart Gorman, Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, on the 17th of last month, the U.S. notified Sergey Trepelkov, Minister-Counselor at the Russian Embassy in Washington, to leave the U.S. on the 24th, one week later.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.