Moscow says communication lines of Russian Consulate in NY should be restored promptly

F.P Report

MOSCOW:  Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson on January 21st has said that Moscow called on Washington to promptly take all necessary measures to restore phone communication in the Russian Consulate General in New York.

While digging into the details she stated that “We address Washington once again: [urging it] to take all the necessary measures to restore normal communication for our diplomats in New York. I would like to underscore that many people who come to the Consulate General are US citizens. You complicate life for them as well.”

Earlier on Tuesday, all phone lines in the Russian Consulate General in New York were reported to be down, on top of which issues with cell phones and Internet connection was also observed.

Russian diplomats recommended sending requests for consulate services by email.  The Consulate General says that such a situation never happened before.

Zakharova pointed out that the US Department of State, which was officially notified about the malfunction, has distanced itself from the ongoing situation.

“Such position of the US authorities once again proves the groundlessness of the allegations by the US Embassy in Moscow that American diplomats in Russia, unlike Russian diplomats in the US, have to work in the tightest conditions. We hope that this situation is not an invitation to reciprocity from the American side. I am certain that we have more interesting spheres to apply reciprocity,” Zakharova said.

On the other hand the Office of Foreign Missions of the US Department of State maintains that this matter must be resolved with the phone company.