Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova pointed to Russia’s diplomatic property seized by US authorities in response to remarks made by White House National Security Adviser John Bolton who accused Moscow of stealing US technologies.
“Since the issue of theft popped into John Bolton’s head, then I’ll remind him that Washington stole the buildings of the Russian Consulate General and the residence of Russia’s Consul General in San Francisco, the Russian trade mission in Washington, the residence of the Russian Consul General in Seattle, along with two Russian diplomatic facilities in Maryland and New York,” the diplomat emphasized. “However, what is way more significant, it kidnapped a large number of Russian citizens from third countries. Or is that not theft, Mr. Bolton? Then give them back.”
US National Security Adviser Bolton earlier claimed in an interview with Voice of America that Russia had stolen American technologies related to the development of hypersonic weapons.
Diplomatic property spat
On September 2, 2017, US authorities closed down the Russian Consulate General in San Francisco and the Trade Mission in Washington, which are owned by the Russian government and enjoy diplomatic immunity. In addition, the New York office of the Trade Mission, which Russia had been renting, was shut down. Moscow described the US administration’s move as an overtly hostile act and urged US authorities to return these properties immediately.
On March 26, 2018, Washington announced the closure of the Russian Consulate General in Seattle (rented by Russia) and the residence of the Consul General (Russia’s diplomatic property).
