Russian Ambassador speaks about 'delicate' lawsuit against US over diplomatic property
Russia is carrying out "thorough and delicate" work to prepare a lawsuit against the US regarding the blocking by US authorities of access to Russian diplomatic property in the United States, Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov told RIA Novosti on the sidelines of the Russian-American Science Association (RASA-US) Conference,
"We are working with the lawyers, thoroughly working on gathering documents. This is work that requires time," said Antonov.
In late August, the US Department of State announced the closure of the Russian Consulate General in San Francisco, as well as missions in Washington and New York, in response to the expulsion of American diplomats from Russia. After that, searches were conducted in the buildings of the Russian diplomatic missions. The Russian Foreign Ministry called the actions of the US authorities "state hooliganism." Washington stated that they had only inspected the premises.
In early October, the Foreign Ministry accused US authorities of “stealing Russian state flags from the consulate building in San Francisco”. The US State Department made assurances that the flags were "respectfully pulled down and securely stored." In late October, the US authorities returned the flags, as well as the archives of the consulate in San Francisco, to the Russians.