The United States is expelling a 13th Russian official at the United Nations who is suspected of spying.
One day after the U.S. government said it was expelling 12 Russian “intelligence operatives” from the Russian Mission to the United Nations over national security concerns, U.N. spokeswoman Stephane Dujarric told reporters Tuesday of another Russian diplomat who is getting the boot.
US EXPELS 12 RUSSIAN ‘INTELLIGENCE OPERATIVES’ AT THE UNITED NATIONS
“We regret we find ourselves in this situation, but are engaging with the host country,” Dujarric said, according to the Hill. “What makes this decision a little difficult to understand is that the staff member was scheduled to end his assignment on 14 March.”
A State Department spokesperson confirmed to the Washington Examiner on Tuesday that the Biden administration had initiated the departure of “one Russian intelligence operative working at the United Nations as a staff member,” noting that the diplomat had “abused their privileges of residence in the United States.”
Speaking on the 12 diplomats who were already being expelled, spokeswoman Olivia Dalton tweeted, “We are beginning the process of expelling 12 intelligence operatives from the Russian Mission who have abused their privileges of residency in the U.S. by engaging in espionage activities that are adverse to our national security.”
The expulsions were announced less than a week into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which the U.S. is protesting.
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The U.N. is headquartered in New York City.
