(Dan Tri) – Moscow warned of retaliation after the US refused to issue visas to reporters scheduled to accompany Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to the United Nations meeting in New York.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (Photo: Reuters).
`This is an absurd decision. A country that considers itself the strongest, wisest, freest and fairest would lower itself like this… We will not forget and will not forgive this
Foreign Minister Lavrov is expected to chair two meetings of the United Nations Security Council in New York this week after Russia took over the rotating presidency in early April. In addition, the Russian diplomat plans to
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov warned: `I emphasize that we will find every way to respond, so that the Americans remember that things should not happen like that.`
He said that the US side `evaded` a specific response to the visa issuance process for Russian reporters, and at the last minute still said that it was resolving the issue.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also wrote on Telegram: `About 40 minutes before departure, all of our reporters were at the airport but did not have visas. The US Embassy responded to the request.`
In response to Russia’s reaction, the US State Department said it regularly issues visas to Russians attending United Nations events.
Since Moscow launched its military operation in Ukraine at the end of February last year, the US has imposed individual sanctions on senior Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov.
Recently, Russia had to urge the US to quickly grant permission for a plane to carry Foreign Minister Lavrov to New York to attend the United Nations meeting.
Russian Ambassador to Washington Anatoly Antonov said on April 13 that the reporters accompanying Foreign Minister Lavrov were scheduled to get visas on March 31, but the US side canceled the appointment at the last minute without giving an explanation.
Diplomatic tensions between the US and Russia have recently escalated after Russia arrested Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich on charges of spying.
