A scandal erupts between Russia and the US over a Seattle residence
Russia stated that representatives of US authorities raided the residence of the Russian Consul General in Seattle that was closed the day before, RIA Novosti reports. The embassy in Washington said these actions constituted an unfriendly step and promised that Moscow would retaliate.
All of the consulate’s staff had already left the residence. The consulate itself stopped its work on April 2 as ordered by the US. Since then, documents and belongings have been collected from the residence and the building itself is being prepared for conservation.
"The electricity and gas were shut off. Our national flag remains there, because this is our property. We lock it and take the keys with us," Senior Consul Halit Aisin said on April 24. The consulate also announced recently that the Russian diplomats are ready for any developments regarding the building of the Russian Consul General in Seattle. They promised to keep an eye on the property.
The Russian Consulate General in Seattle stopped its work at the request of the American government. After the closure of the consulate, Russian citizens were asked to contact the Russian consulates in Washington, New York and Houston.
On March 26, the White House announced the decision to expel 60 Russian diplomats and close the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Seattle following the poisoning of former GRU agent Sergei Skripal in British Salisbury.