Russia has accused the U.S. of violating its international obligations by denying visas to 10 members of Russian delegation, due to attend the UN General Assembly session.
“It is a worrisome situation, and such actions are not acceptable,” Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday.
Describing the act as a direct violation of international obligations, he said such actions call for a “tough reaction” from Moscow.
“This is a direct violation of Washington’s international obligations, this is not a bilateral visit.” Peskov said.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told on Tuesday that the United States’ refusal to issue entry visas to a number of Russian delegates to the UN General Assembly session is an example of Washington’s outrageous disrespect towards UN members,
This affair will be discussed at a meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo.
The U.S. Embassy in Moscow had accepted the application of the 10 members of the Russian delegation, but did not return their documents, to allow them to participate in the deliberations of the 74th UN General Assembly session, Peskov told reporters in Moscow.
While the U.S. State Department said it could not comment, saying “visa records are confidential under U.S. law.”
Washington has said Russian officials failed to provide the necessary documentation needed for issuing visas in a timely manner.
