US Restricts Movement of Russian Diplomats across Country

A Russian diplomat announced that the United States of America (USA) has imposed restrictions on the movement of Russian diplomats working in UN agencies on American soil.

The Director of the Legal Office of the Russian Mission to the United Nations, Sergey Leonidchenko, said during a session of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country, that "last December, the United States imposed new restrictions on the movements of staff in the permanent mission and Russian citizens who are employees of the United Nations Secretariat."

And he explained that the system for leaving the "25-mile zone" had been changed, to require obtaining permission, while previously the diplomat had to inform only the American side about travel.

The Russian diplomat pointed out that since last December, all Russian employees of the diplomatic mission to the United Nations have been prevented from traveling outside the "25-mile zone" without explaining the reasons.

He added, "In fact, the ban has been imposed, and the United States applies restrictions to employees in the missions of some countries only, not all. It is clear that there is blatant discrimination."