- Russia said Gorman was told to leave in response to the US recently expelling one of Moscow’s diplomats.
- A spokesman for the State Department says Russia’s action against our DCM was unprovoked and we consider this an escalating step.
- Russia has been complaining for months that US authorities have blocked or slowly issued visas for its diplomats.
Washington: Russia expelled the number-two US diplomat from Moscow on Thursday as tensions mounted over the threat of invading Ukraine.
“We can confirm that Russia has expelled the US Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) to Russia, Bart Gorman,” said a State Department spokesman.
“Russia’s action against our DCM was unprovoked and we view this as an escalating step and are considering our response,” the spokesperson said.
“More than ever, it is critical that our countries have the necessary diplomatic personnel to facilitate communication between our governments,” the official said.
Russia said Gorman was told to leave in response to the US recently expelling one of Moscow’s diplomats.
“The US diplomat was ordered to leave Russia in response to the unwarranted expulsion of the adviser from our embassy in Washington,” Maria Zakharova, the spokesman for the Moscow Foreign Ministry, told Telegram.
It blamed the regular mutual expulsions of diplomats on Washington.
“The mass expulsions of diplomats and the growing ‘visa war’ are not our choice,” Zakharova said.
She claimed that Moscow “has repeatedly and at various levels offered to the American side to stop the deterioration of the conditions for the functioning of diplomatic missions.”
Russia has been complaining for months that US authorities have blocked or slowly issued visas for its diplomats.
