Churkin: U.S. authorities' ban on families of Russian diplomats to access country residences during vacations is cynical
NEW YORK (UN). Dec 30 (Interfax) - The decision made by the U.S. authorities to ban Russian diplomats from accessing country residences in the period of the New Year school vacations is cynical, Russian envoy to the UN Vitaly Churkin said.
"The said facilities are a place where our children spend their vacations. Now is Christmas time, the children from our schools are on vacation, it's the time when children come to these complexes," he told reporters on Friday.
"In my view, it's rather cynical to block our access there at the moment when holidays have begun," Churkin said.
On Thursday, the U.S. imposed new sanctions against Moscow for cyber attacks that were allegedly carried out in the period of the U.S. presidential election.
Specifically, the sanctions envisage the closure of Russian diplomats' residential complexes in Maryland and New York, which, according to Washington, were used "for intelligence purposes."