Diplomat sees ‘unhealthy environment’ for Russian embassies in West

Russia is taking note that an "unhealthy environment" has recently been created for the work of employees of Russian diplomatic missions in the EU countries and the US and Canada, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Yevgeny Ivanov told reporters on Thursday.

"We take note that an unhealthy environment has recently been created: There are constant provocations around our embassies and against our employees and members of their families," he said. "It’s not easy now for our employees to work [in the West]. This applies primarily to the countries of the European Union, the USA, Canada."

Ivanov said that Moscow is constantly urging Western partners to comply with the provisions of the Vienna Convention "in matters of ensuring the normal functioning of diplomatic missions."

"This also applies to bank accounts," he continued. "In most countries, these issues are resolved on a reciprocal basis. But this is all contrived. Everything is different and depends on the country".