Envoy: Russia, US begin talks on return of confiscated diplomatic properties

Representatives of Russia and the United States have begun negotiations on granting access to six Russian diplomatic properties that are currently confiscated in the US, Russian Ambassador to the US Alexander Darchiev announced.

He stated that a negotiation process has been initiated regarding the return of the six diplomatic properties, which were effectively confiscated by US authorities between 2016 and 2018, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

The ambassador added that the American side has been given a "roadmap" outlining realistic timeframes and demanding that representatives of the Russian diplomatic mission be granted access to these sites to conduct inspections and assess the damage caused.

Darchiev also noted that the next round of Russian-American consultations aimed at eliminating "irritants" in bilateral diplomatic relations will take place in Moscow. These consultations will build on the previous rounds held in Istanbul and will, for the first time, take place on the territory of one of the sides.

The diplomatic property dispute between Russia and the United States dates back to the deterioration of bilateral relations following alleged Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election. In December 2016, the Obama administration ordered the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats and closed two Russian diplomatic compounds in Maryland and New York, citing their alleged use for intelligence purposes.

Subsequent measures under the Trump administration between 2017 and 2018 further restricted Russian diplomatic operations, including the forced closure of the Russian consulate in San Francisco and annexes in Washington, D.C., and New York. US authorities seized control of several buildings, prompting strong protests from Moscow, which described the moves as a violation of international law and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

In response, Russia reduced the number of US diplomatic staff in Russia and imposed restrictions on the use of American diplomatic property. The stand-off over diplomatic assets has since remained a persistent source of tension in US-Russia relations.

By Khagan Isayev