The United States called on Russia to comply with the Vienna Convention when interrogating diplomats

The US State Department called on Russia to comply with the Vienna Convention when interrogating diplomats in the case of Robert Shonov, a former employee of the US Consulate General in Vladivostok. About it says in a statement posted on the department’s website.

“In accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, Russia is obliged to treat diplomats with due respect and take all necessary measures to prevent any infringement on their person, freedom or dignity, and we expect it to fulfill this obligation,” the statement said.

The State Department also called the accusations against Shonov groundless. They noted that the US Embassy in Moscow, in strict accordance with Russian law, signed a contract for the provision of services with the company where Shonov worked.

August 28 FSB disclosed details of the detention and arrest of a former employee of the US Consulate General in Vladivostok. According to the agency, since September 2022, he has been assigned by employees of the US Embassy in Moscow, Jeffrey Sillin and David Bernstein. In particular, Shonov collected information about the special operation and the course of mobilization in Russia, as well as data on problematic moments in the regions and their impact on protest activity in Russia on the eve of the Russian presidential elections in 2024. In a video distributed by the FSB, Shonov admitted to these actions .

The FSB noted that diplomats will also be interrogated in this case, such summonses have already been sent to the US Embassy in Moscow.

The FSB announced the detention and arrest of Shonov in May 2023. Now Shonov is in the Lefortovo pre-trial detention center. He has already been charged under Art. 275.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“Cooperation on a confidential basis with a foreign state”). The maximum punishment under this article provides for imprisonment for up to eight years.