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US Criticizes Russia's Expulsion of Americans
The United States on Tuesday criticized Russia's retaliatory expulsion of American diplomats, saying the action was "unwarranted and unfortunate."
State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said: "We find this Russian action both unwarranted and unfortunate."
"The actions we took were a direct response to the Hanssen case and long-standing problem of Russian intelligence presence in the United States. With our action we considered the matter closed," Boucher said.
The spokesman confirmed the Russian government on Tuesday presented the United States with a list of American diplomats who were declared persona non grata.
"The four diplomats have been asked to depart Moscow shortly, that is, within the same 10-day time limit that we gave to their people. The Russians also asked us to make additional reductions in embassy staff and gave us a list of people," he said.
"We're studying the list to see who it is," Boucher said.
The United States on Thursday formally expelled four Russian diplomats accused of direct involvement with a former FBI agent spying for Moscow and told Moscow it expected an additional 46 to leave in the coming months.
The expulsions mark the most serious spy row between the United States and Russia since the end of the Cold War.
Russia Gives Names of Four US Diplomats to Be Expelled Russia on Tuesday gave the names of four US diplomats, whom were announced personae non grata by Russia and demanded to leave Moscow within ten days, according to a Russian Foreign Ministry release.
The US temporary charge d'affaires John Ordway was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry Tuesday for the name list and also informed on further Russian steps aimed at curbing the illegal activities of US secret services in Russia.
The U.S. State Department announced last Thursday to expel four Russian diplomats accused of direct involvement with a former FBI agent spying for Moscow, while demanding an additional 46 to leave in coming months.
As response, Russia on the next day declared four staff members of the U.S. embassy in Moscow "persona non grata" for "activities incompatible with their status."
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