Russia on Thursday announced the expulsion of two American diplomats accused of serving as liaison agents for a former Russian official and passing information to the US about the conflict in Ukraine.
The two diplomats stated this, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry persona not grateful are the first and second secretaries of the US embassy in Moscow, Jeffrey Sillin and David Bernstein, who have been asked to leave Russian territory within seven days.
According to Russian authorities, the two diplomats “carried out illegal activities by establishing contacts with a Russian citizen, Robert Chonov, accused of confidential cooperation with a foreign state” and from whom “they were given tasks in exchange for financial compensation with the aim of undermine security. national of Russia”.
U.S. Ambassador to Moscow Lynne Tracy was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry on Thursday and informed of the decision.
These expulsions come at a time when relations between Russia and the United States are at a low point, mainly due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022.
Robert Chonov, a former employee of the US Consulate General in Vladivostok, in the Far East, was indicted by Russian security services at the end of August, accusing him of having collected information since September 2022 about the offensive in Ukraine and the military mobilization to support the United States. States to provide, risks eight years in prison.
Source: DN
