Russia introduces notification procedure for travel by British diplomats

MOSCOW. July 20 (Interfax) - The Russian side has introduced a notification procedure for travel by British embassy staff as a response measure, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

Britain's charge d'affaires ad interim, Tom Dodd, was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry earlier on Thursday. The British side was informed of "the decision to introduce a notification procedure for travel by staff of British diplomatic missions across Russian territory, which was made in response to London's hostile actions, in particular those obstructing the normal functioning of Russian missions in the United Kingdom," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on its website.

"These restrictions stipulate that any accredited staff of the British Embassy in Moscow, except the ambassador, minister-counselor and the head of the Consular Department, and of the Consulate General in Yekaterinburg except the consul general, must submit notifications at least five working days before traveling beyond the 120-km free movement zone. Such a [notification] document must contain information about the time, duration, purpose and type of journey, planned business contacts, accompanying individuals, type of transport, planned visit locations and accommodation, and the journey's itinerary," the Foreign Ministry said.