Russian MFA gets in harsh dialogue with US, UK, Canadian envoys for attending pro-opposition journalist trial

The conversation with the US, British and Canadian ambassadors summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry on April 18, was held in a harsh tone, said the ministry's spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova.

She noted the diplomats were summoned after they attended the trial of Russian pro-opposition journalist Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was sentenced to 25 years in a strict regime prison.

Zakharova threatened that if such behaviour by ambassadors continues, "it will be recorded as not corresponding to the declared status".

"Yesterday [April 18], they were summoned to the Foreign Ministry, everything was explained to them, and so in a tough tone, without any, you know, desire to soften something, somehow put on the brakes, no, of course," Radio Sputnik quotes her as saying.

Kara-Murza was convicted on the charges of treason (Article 275 of the Criminal Code), public dissemination of false information about the army (point e, part 2, Article 207.3 of the Criminal Code), and conducting activities of an undesirable organization (part 1, Article 284.1 of the Criminal Code).

British Ambassador Deborah Bronnert, US Ambassador Lynn Trace and Canadian Ambassador Alison Leclair were present at the hearing at the Moscow City Court.

Bronnert described the court's decision as shocking.