The Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed Ambassador Tracy on September 14 of the decision to declare two U.S. diplomats “persona non grata.”
We completely reject the basis for this unprovoked expulsion of our diplomatic personnel. The two expelled individuals are accredited diplomats whose work was entirely consistent with their diplomatic status.
We have previously voiced our strong protest of the Russian government’s attempts to intimidate and harass U.S. Embassy employees. This step is a significant escalation.
The U.S. government reserves the right to respond at a time and manner of its choosing.
