Russia expels two US Embassy staff in Moscow for alleged "secret cooperation"

The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed on September 14 that the country decided to expel two US diplomatic officials on charges of collaborating with a Russian citizen who was allegedly collaborating with foreigners.

US Embassy in Russia. (Source: ABC News)

In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry said it had summoned US Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy and informed First Secretary Jeffrey Sillin and Second Secretary David Bernstein of the Embassy to leave Russia within the next seven days.

The statement stressed: “The named persons conducted illegal activities, maintaining contact with Russian citizen R. Shonov, who is accused of 'secret cooperation' with foreign countries.”

The Russian Foreign Ministry added that Shonov was paid to complete tasks aimed at harming Russia's national security and asserted that any interference by the US Embassy in Russia's internal affairs would be prevented.

Robert Shonov, a Russian national, was employed at the US Consulate General in the Russian Far Eastern city of Vladivostok for more than 25 years, until Moscow banned the US diplomatic mission from hiring local staff in 2021.

Last August, Shonov was indicted by the Russian Federal Security Service for allegedly collecting information about Moscow's campaign in Ukraine for the US Embassy. Shonov was accused of "collecting data on Russia's special military operation, the process of mobilizing troops, related troubles and influencing the public's psychology before the 2024 Russian presidential election."

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/nga-truc-xuat-2-nhan-vien-dai-su-quan-my-tai-moscow-vi-cao-buoc-hop-tac-bi-mat-242166.html