Diplomat Is Expelled By Moscow After Accused Of Illegal Activities, US: Russia Chooses Confrontation And Escalation

JAKARTA - Russia expelled two US diplomats accused of carrying out illegal activities involving a citizen, a move Washington judged unfounded and would provide an equal response.

Russia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement it had summoned US Ambassador Lynne Tracy and told him that Embassy First Secretary Jeffrey Sillin and Second Secretary David Bernstein had to leave Russia within seven days.

"The people named carried out illegal activities, maintaining contact with Russian national R. Shonov who was accused of secret cooperation with foreign countries," according to a Russian statement.

In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Shonov was paid to complete tasks aimed at undermining Russia's national security.

"It is also emphasized (to Tracy) that illegal activities of US diplomatic missions, including interference in the country's domestic affairs of the host, are unacceptable and will be dealt with firmly," he said.

"The Russian side expects Washington to draw correct conclusions and refrain from confrontational measures," the ministry said.

In response, the US State Department said the expulsion of its two diplomats had no reason to warn that Washington would respond appropriately.

"The expulsion of our diplomatic personnel for no reason is completely baseless, as happened to our former embassy contractor in Russia," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters.

"Once again, Russia chose confrontation and escalation over constructive diplomatic engagement. Russia continues to harass our embassy employees, just as they continue to intimidate their own citizens," he continued.

"We regret Russia has taken this path and you can certainly hope that we will do the same. Respond to their actions appropriately," Miller said.

It is known that Robert Shonov worked at the US Consulate General in the city of Vladivostok, eastern Russia, for more than 25 years until Russia in 2021 ordered the dismissal of local staff on the mission of Uncle Sam's country.

Russia's FSB security service published a video in August, showing Shonov's confession, in which he said Sillin and Bernstein had asked him to gather information about Russia's war efforts in Ukraine, annexing "new territory", mobilizing its military and presidential elections in 2024.

In the video, Shonov says he was asked to gather "negative" information on the topics, to look for signs of popular protests and to reflect this in his report.

Washington accused Moscow of trying to intimidate and harass US employees, after Russian state media reported allegations against Shonov, saying the FSB plans to question embassy employees who have been in contact with him.

When he was arrested in May, the US State Department said the case highlighted Russia's "independent use of the law" against its own citizens. It said the accusations against Shonov were "fully baseless".

It is known that relations between Moscow and Washington have fallen to the worst point for more than 60 years due to the war in Ukraine. The US provides advanced weapons to Kyiv, and imposes sanctions on Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.