Russian officials on Wednesday filmed U.S. law enforcement officers as they tried to enter the Russian consulate in Seattle that was shuttered by the Trump administration.
At 9:11 a.m., the Russian Embassy in Washington, D.C., began tweeting videos showing U.S. “special services” at the property.
The videos show officials arriving at the property, which was vacated by Russian diplomatic personnel, according to the Russian Embassy. Personnel at the consulate left Seattle for the nation’s capital Tuesday, according to the Russians.
“US special services are preparing to invade Russian diplomatic property in Seattle @GK_Seattle,” the Russian Embassy tweeted Wednesday morning.
US special services are preparing to invade Russian diplomatic property in Seattle @GK_Seattle pic.twitter.com/3j5zZqYoL5
— Russia in USA ?? (@RusEmbUSA) April 25, 2018
The embassy said Russian diplomats “locked the residence, but retained the keys” because the property belonged to Russia.
“All Russian diplomatic personnel left Seattle on Tuesday morning, and headed to Washington D.C. The diplomats locked the residence, but retained the keys because the @GK_Seattle facility is the property of @Russia,” the embassy said in another tweet.
All Russian diplomatic personnel left Seattle on Tuesday morning, and headed to Washington D.C. The diplomats locked the residence, but retained the keys because the @GK_Seattle facility is the property of @Russia??
.
➡️ https://t.co/QJBuMiercF
? https://t.co/aW00P0usnf pic.twitter.com/WEDrozunrn— Russia in USA ?? (@RusEmbUSA) April 25, 2018
Subsequent posts and videos from the Russians showed U.S. officials trying to open the gate to the facility and, once through, working to enter the front door.
“US special services are trying to enter Russian diplomatic property in Seattle,” one tweet said, accompanied by a video.
US special services are trying to enter Russian diplomatic property in Seattle pic.twitter.com/sRGCSDOZGD
— Russia in USA ?? (@RusEmbUSA) April 25, 2018
US special services are trying to enter Russian diplomatic property in Seattle pic.twitter.com/nVlCaL3lTL
— Russia in USA ?? (@RusEmbUSA) April 25, 2018
“Meanwhile, US security service employee is still trying to enter Russian diplomatic property in Seattle,” the embassy tweeted.
Meanwhile, US security service employee is still trying to enter Russian diplomatic property in Seattle pic.twitter.com/opLHQUJzzT
— Russia in USA ?? (@RusEmbUSA) April 25, 2018
The videos show U.S. officials on the grounds, with a uniformed officer manning a gate.
“US special services have just again entered @GK_Seattle,” the Russian embassy said.
US special services have just again entered @GK_Seattle pic.twitter.com/eXZXkfoEtP
— Russia in USA ?? (@RusEmbUSA) April 25, 2018
President Trump called last month for 60 Russian officials to be expelled following the March nerve agent attack on a former Russian double agent and his daughter in Salisbury, England.
Forty-eight of the Russians worked at Russian embassies and consulates, while the remaining 12 worked at the United Nations in New York City.
The president also said the Russian consulate in Seattle would be closed.
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said at the time the Russian property in Seattle was to be shuttered because of its proximity to a U.S. submarine base and the aerospace giant Boeing.
