The US announced the expulsion of two Russian diplomats
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The US State Department declared persona non grata for two diplomats from Russia. About it reported “RIA Novosti” with reference to the foreign policy department of the United States.
The State Department said the Russians were expelled in response to Moscow’s September decision to expel US embassy workers Jeffrey Sillin and David Bernstein.
“In response to Russia’s ostentatious expulsion of two diplomats from the US Embassy in Moscow, the State Department reciprocated by declaring persona non grata two employees of the Russian Embassy who worked in the United States,” the department noted.
The names of the diplomats expelled from the United States were not specified.
September 14, Russian Foreign Ministry announced Sillin and Bernstein were declared persons non grata and ordered to leave Russia within seven days. The department clarified that they carried out illegal activities by maintaining contact with Robert Shonov, a former employee of the US Embassy in Vladivostok, accused of “confidential cooperation” with a foreign state. US State Department promised respond to the expulsion of employees.
May 15 FSB of Russia arrested Shonova. He was suspected of collaborating with a foreign state or organization on a confidential basis. According to investigators, Shonov carried out assignments of Sillin and Bernstein: collected information about the special operation and mobilization in Russia, as well as problematic issues in the regions and their impact on protest activity in Russia on the eve of the Russian presidential elections in 2024. US State Department named the accusations made are groundless.
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