Russia slams US officials for breaking into San Francisco consulate

Moscow says American officials have intruded into residences of the Russian consulate in San Francisco seized last month in defiance of the Kremlin’s warnings against such unlawful practices, stressing that it reserves the right to retaliate.

In a statement released on Monday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said, “Today they (US officials) completely seized all premises of Russia’s Consulate General in San Francisco, with the residential section of the administrative building.”

“Despite our warnings, US authorities have not listened to the voice of reason and did not give up on their illegal intentions,” the statement added.

Russian diplomats had been given an October 1 deadline to vacate the residence following formal instructions by the US State Department demanding the closure of Russia’s Consulate in the west coast city of San Francisco.

The diplomatic staff left the consulate last month.

The statement further said US Secret Services – responsible for the protection of foreign diplomatic compounds in the country – have been “bossing around” in the building’s restricted areas for a month.

According to the statement, a separate residence of the consul general has also been “seized,” underlining that the measures amount to a “new flagrant violation of international law.”

“We stress once again that we have never given and don't give US authorities the consent to remove immunity from Russia's diplomatic and consular property. We have not allowed and do not allow breaking in to our facilities," the ministry further added.

It also described the US authorities at the site of the consulate compound as “invaders,” reiterating that their actions marked “an unprecedented lawlessness for the history of bilateral relations.”

According to the statement, entrance doors to the premises were forced open and a new “total search” of the building was conducted inside. It also noted that Washington has “forcefully seized” five Russian diplomatic properties since last December.

The Russian Foreign Ministry further emphasized that the latest move demonstrated that Washington “agrees to the possibility of a similar treatment” with respect to its diplomatic mission in Russia and that it “reserved the right to respond.”

The former US administration expelled Russian diplomats and closed two Russian diplomatic compounds in New York and Maryland back in December 2016 over Moscow’s alleged meddling in presidential electiosn. At the time Moscow decided not to retaliate, hoping to mend relations with the incoming administration of the newly-elected President Donald Trump.

However, the US Congress approved new sanctions against Russia in July, prompting Moscow to significantly cut the number of US diplomatic staff in Russia.

The Trump administration then ordered the closure of the Russian Consulate in San Francisco on August 31, as well as a consular annex in New York and a chancery annex in Washington, DC.

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov vowed at the time that Moscow would introduce “full parity” into its ties with Washington.

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