Moscow wants accusations brought against Russian diplomats in U.S. to be clarified - deputy foreign minister
MOSCOW. Dec 6 (Interfax) - Moscow is perplexed by Washington's decision to make public accusations brought against Russian diplomats without discussing this issue through diplomatic channels beforehand.
"We are puzzled by the steps to provide the media with information that officials of Russian diplomatic missions in the U.S. were accused of allegedly breaching tax and other laws," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told Interfax on Thursday.
"It is not clear why these agencies decided that it was possible to make public these accusations without discussing them through diplomatic channels beforehand," he said.
"Until the American authorities explain to us clearly the essence of offences our citizens have been accused of committing, we will not be able to offer any comments on this matter," Ryabkov said.