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Russia Set to Expel 35 U.S. Diplomats in Response to Move by Obama Russia Set to Expel 35 U.S. Diplomats in Response to Action by Obama
(35 minutes later)
MOSCOW — Russia moved on Friday to impose tit-for-tat measures against the United States in the latest crisis in relations between the two countries, with the foreign minister recommending that the country expel 35 American diplomats and close two diplomatic facilities. MOSCOW — Russia moved on Friday to impose tit-for-tat measures against the United States in the latest flare-up between the countries, with the foreign minister recommending that the country expel 35 American diplomats and close two diplomatic facilities.
The moves, recommended by the Foreign Ministry, are subject to the approval of President Vladimir V. Putin, but given that they were proposed by the foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, in remarks broadcast on national television, they seemed likely to be adopted. The moves are subject to the approval of President Vladimir V. Putin, but given that they were proposed by the foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, in remarks broadcast on national television, his recommendation seemed likely to be adopted.
Mr. Lavrov recommended that 31 American diplomats be expelled from Moscow and four from St. Petersburg. He also recommended the closing of two facilities: a swimming and boating area in Moscow used by diplomats, as well as a warehouse in the southern, industrial part of the Russian capital. On Thursday, the Obama administration declared 35 Russians suspected of being intelligence operatives “persona non grata”; imposed sanctions on two of Russia’s leading intelligence services; and penalized four top officers of one of those services, the powerful military intelligence unit known as the G.R.U., because of its efforts to influence the presidential election.
It was not yet clear if those would be the full extent of the measures, as the United States took a two-pronged approach on Tuesday. But they seemed to be a restrained response reflecting the overall mood in the Russian government — that the Kremlin would wait three weeks for the inauguration of Donald J. Trump and hope that things might improve. As part of the punishment, the State Department said that it would close two waterfront estates — one in New York, the other in Maryland — that it said were used for Russian intelligence activities. It was not clear, however, whether the two properties were a base for the election-related hacking.
On Thursday, the Obama administration ordered the expulsion of 35 Russians suspected of being intelligence operatives; imposed sanctions on two of Russia’s leading intelligence services; and penalized four top officers of one of those services, the powerful military intelligence unit known as the G.R.U. because of its efforts to influence the 2016 election.
United States intelligence agencies have concluded that the G.R.U., with the approval of the Kremlin, ordered the attacks on the Democratic National Committee and other political organizations, and that the Russian government enabled the publication of the emails it obtained, to benefit Donald J. Trump’s campaign.
As part of the punishment, the State Department said that it would close two waterfront estates — one in New York, the other in Maryland — that it said were used for Russian intelligence activities. It was not clear, however, whether the two properties were used as a base for the election-related hacking.
The actions amounted to the strongest American response yet to a state-sponsored cyberattack.The actions amounted to the strongest American response yet to a state-sponsored cyberattack.
In retaliation, Mr. Lavrov recommended on Friday that 31 American diplomats be expelled from Moscow and four from St. Petersburg. He also recommended the closing of two facilities: a wooded picnic area on a Moscow island used by diplomats, as well as a warehouse in the southern, industrial part of the Russian capital.
It was not yet clear if there would be further measures, as the United States took a two-pronged approach involving expulsions as well as sanctions. But they seemed to be a relatively restrained response reflecting the overall mood in the Russian government — that the Kremlin would wait three weeks for the inauguration of Donald J. Trump and hope that relations might improve.
United States intelligence agencies have concluded that the G.R.U., with the approval of the Kremlin, ordered the attacks on the Democratic National Committee and other political organizations, and that the Russian government enabled the publication of the emails it obtained to benefit Mr. Trump’s presidential campaign.
While vowing that Mr. Putin would decide personally how to respond, his spokesman, Dmitry S. Peskov, said, “We proceed from the premise that these decisions were taken by President Obama, and that in three weeks Donald Trump will be the new head of state.”While vowing that Mr. Putin would decide personally how to respond, his spokesman, Dmitry S. Peskov, said, “We proceed from the premise that these decisions were taken by President Obama, and that in three weeks Donald Trump will be the new head of state.”
Mr. Lavrov, in making his recommendations, said actions like those taken by the United States could not go unanswered.Mr. Lavrov, in making his recommendations, said actions like those taken by the United States could not go unanswered.
“Of course, we cannot leave such mischievous tricks without a response,” he said. “Reciprocity is the law of diplomacy and of international relations.”“Of course, we cannot leave such mischievous tricks without a response,” he said. “Reciprocity is the law of diplomacy and of international relations.”
There was no immediate response from the State Department. Elizabeth K. Trudeau, a spokeswoman, said by phone from Washington that the State Department was studying Mr. Lavrov’s statement and would respond later. The Russian Foreign Ministry denied reports that Moscow was planning to close the Anglo-American School, which is heavily attended by the children of Western diplomats and wealthy Russians.
There is a long history of reciprocal expulsions and other measures between the two countries, even after the Cold War ended with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. In addition to giving 35 Russian diplomats and their families 72 hours to leave the country, the measures announced by President Obama imposed sanctions on Russia’s two main intelligence services. Washington described the diplomats as intelligence agents working under the cover of diplomacy.
While Mr. Obama framed the new American measures as a response to Russian hacking during the election, the expulsion of the Russian diplomats from Washington and San Francisco was described as a response to continued harassment of American diplomats in Russia. The administration also penalized four top officers from one of the highly secretive services, the G.R.U.
Mr. Peskov denied that any such harassment takes place, but American diplomats tell a different story. Many travel around Moscow in cars with red diplomatic license plates that start with the number 004, denoting United States Embassy vehicles. That makes them easy targets for traffic stops. Previous sanctions by the United States and its Western allies were levied against broad sectors of the Russian economy and also blacklisted dozens of individuals, some of them close friends of Mr. Putin’s who were considered crucial in the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and in destabilizing Ukraine.
Embassy employees said they were tailed as they moved around the city, and that sometimes, when they were not at home, agents would enter and move the furniture around, just to show that they have been there. The economic sanctions covered three main areas, including blocking Russian access to international credit, cutting off cooperation in advance oil field technology and stopping arms deals or the sale of dual-use technology.
Some find it unnerving, others shrug it off as part of the job. One young father said he was just grateful that his children were too small to realize that the family was being followed. Much of their effect stemmed from the fact that they coincided with a sharp drop in global oil prices, hitting Russia with a double blow. Companies had trouble obtaining credit, driving up the short-term cost of borrowing and compounding a deep recession. Over the long run, the effect is likely to be strongest in the oil sector because it dried up most exploration in difficult areas like the Arctic.
Russia responded with sanctions of its own, mostly banning agricultural products and certain foods imported from the West. Mr. Putin and other officials have repeatedly crowed that this resulted in a successful campaign of “import substitution.”
Russia also maintained a secret list of Western officials who were no longer allowed into the country. Most, like the former American ambassador Michael McFaul, discovered it only when they applied for visas to Russia.
Even before the announcement of the latest Russian measures, Maria Zakharova, a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, took to Facebook to denounce the Obama administration, although she spared Secretary of State John Kerry the bulk of her criticism.
Ms. Zakharova called the Obama administration “a group of a foreign policy losers, embittered and narrow-minded.”
“Today America, the American people, were humiliated by their own president,” she wrote.
There was no immediate response from the Obama administration. Elizabeth K. Trudeau, a spokeswoman for the State Department, said by phone from Washington that it was studying Mr. Lavrov’s statement and would respond later.
There is a long history of reciprocal expulsions and other measures between the United States and Russia, even after the Cold War ended with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
While Mr. Obama framed the new American measures as a response to Russian hacking during the election, the expulsion of Russian diplomats from Washington and San Francisco was described as a response to continued harassment of American diplomats in Russia.
Mr. Peskov denied that any such harassment takes place, but American diplomats tell a different story. Many travel around Moscow in cars with red diplomatic license plates that start with 004, denoting United States Embassy vehicles. That makes them easy targets for traffic stops.
Embassy employees said they were tailed as they moved around the city, and that sometimes, when they were not at home, agents would enter and move the furniture around, just to show that they had been there.
Some find it unnerving, while others shrug it off as part of the job. One young father said he was just grateful that his children were too small to realize that the family was being followed.
The country house now barred to American diplomats is in Serebryany Bor, a small park located within the city limits and surrounded by the Moscow River. It boasts some of the best beaches in the city.The country house now barred to American diplomats is in Serebryany Bor, a small park located within the city limits and surrounded by the Moscow River. It boasts some of the best beaches in the city.
The area is popular with Russia’s wealthy elite as well as with ordinary Muscovites, who come to the park in droves in the summer. Serebryany means “silver pine forest.”The area is popular with Russia’s wealthy elite as well as with ordinary Muscovites, who come to the park in droves in the summer. Serebryany means “silver pine forest.”