Russia to Continue Seeking Return of Seized Diplomatic Property in US

MOSCOW, June 25. /TASS/. Russia will continue to seek the prompt return of Russian state-owned property in the United States, although the State Department has not responded to the issue so far, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a briefing.

"Russia will continue to seek the prompt return of all Russian diplomatic real estate properties," the diplomat said, emphasizing that "the issue of returning the seized property is being raised consistently and firmly with the US side at various levels."

Zakharova said that the term "corporate raiding" could also be applied to the situation. "This issue is being addressed within the framework of dialogue on removing the so-called irritants in bilateral relations as a non-negotiable condition for restoring trust and normalizing interstate cooperation," she said.

The diplomat said that "the US side has received specific proposals aimed at removing this serious obstacle to the full normalization of relations between Moscow and Washington, but the State Department has so far shown no response on the matter."

Zakharova recalled that the issue concerns "six Russian state-owned properties located in the United States that were seized by US authorities between 2016 and 2018 despite their diplomatic status, which guaranteed them immunity."

The seized properties include country compounds in Maryland and New York, the Russian trade mission mansion in Washington, two buildings of the currently closed Russian Consulate General in San Francisco, and the residence of the Russian consul general in Seattle.

"Washington carried this out in violation of the United States’ international legal obligations," the diplomat added.