Russia’s Foreign Ministry has declared two US diplomats “persona non grata” and issued an order for them to leave the country within seven days, alleging their involvement in “illegal activity.”
According to the ministry’s statement, the first secretary at the US Embassy in Russia, Jeffrey Sillin, and the second secretary, David Bernstein, were accused of maintaining contact with a former employee of the US Consulate in Vladivostok, who was arrested earlier in the year. This former employee was alleged to have gathered information for US diplomats regarding Russia’s military actions in Ukraine and related matters.
The statement noted that US Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy was summoned to the ministry, where she was informed of the expulsions. It also emphasized Russia’s stance against illegal activities by the US diplomatic mission, including interference in the host country’s internal affairs.
The Russian Foreign Ministry expects the US to draw the appropriate conclusions and refrain from confrontational actions.
The arrest of Robert Shonov, the former employee of the US Consulate in Vladivostok, was reported by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) last month. He was charged with collecting information about Russia’s military operation, mobilization processes in Russian regions, and other related issues. The FSB claimed that Shonov was instructed by two US diplomats, reportedly Sillin and Bernstein.
Shonov’s arrest was initially reported in May, and at the time, Russian authorities provided limited details. The US State Department had condemned his arrest, stating that the allegations against Shonov were “wholly without merit.”
Shonov was charged under a new article of Russian law that criminalizes cooperation with foreign entities aimed against Russia’s security. This law has faced criticism for its broad formulation, which some believe could be used to target any Russian with foreign connections, and it carries a prison sentence of up to eight years.
The latest statement from the US State Department characterized the use of this law against Shonov as part of the “increasingly repressive actions” taken by the Russian government against its citizens.
It’s worth noting that the US consulate in Vladivostok closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and has not reopened since.
