The US expels a Russian UN official whom it accuses of espionage

The United States decided to expel from the country a Russian official who works for the United Nations and whom he accuses of acting as an “intelligence agent” for Moscowthe US mission to the organization announced on Tuesday.

“On February 28, the United States began the process to require the departure of a Russian intelligence agent who works at the United Nations and who you have abused your residency privileges“, said to EFE a spokesman for the US mission to the United Nations.

The UN itself confirmed moments after the US informed it of this decision on Monday, which it justifies for an alleged violation of the agreements it has with the United Nations to regulate its role as host country of the organization.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the expelled person, whose identity he refused to reveal, He works in the General Secretariat and was scheduled to leave his post on March 14.

According to him, the United Nations “regrets being in this situation” and is in contact with the United States on the matter.

The US measure comes after he announced on Monday that he declared a person non grata twelve diplomats from the Russian mission to the UN whom he accuses of “espionage” and whom he gave until March 7 to leave the country.

According to a US statement, these twelve people are “intelligence agents” who have “abused their residency privileges in the United States by engaging in espionage activities that are detrimental” to national security.

“This action has been in development for several months,” said US spokeswoman Olivia Dalton, implying that the measure has nothing to do with the current situation in Ukraine.

The Russian mission to the UN yesterday protested the decision and was convinced that Moscow will respond with a similar action, as is usual in this type of diplomatic crisis. (I)