MOSCOW. Feb 17 (Interfax) - The United States Embassy to Russia has confirmed to Interfax that its deputy chief of mission was expelled from the country.
"Russia expelled U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) to Russia Bart Gorman. DCM Gorman was the second-most senior official at U.S. Embassy Moscow after the Ambassador and a key member of the Embassy's senior leadership team," embassy spokesman Jason Rebholz said.
He also noted that Gorman's Russian opposite number had departed Washington as part of the regular diplomatic rotation after completing his stint in January this year.
"Russia's action against our DCM was unprovoked and we consider this an escalatory step and are considering our response. DCM Gorman's tour had not ended; he had a valid visa, and he had been in Russia less than three years," Rebholz said.
"We call on Russia to end its baseless expulsions of U.S. diplomats and staff and to work productively to rebuild our missions. Now more than ever, it is critical that our countries have the necessary diplomatic personnel in place to facilitate communication between our governments. We note that Russia's actions have led to the U.S. mission to Russia being staffed at levels well below the Russian mission to the United States. Our goal is to bring greater parity and reciprocity to our missions," Rebholz said.
Russia was informed in advance about the rule of staying no more than three years and given a five-month notice, he said. "We are requiring Russian diplomats who have stayed well beyond three years to leave the United States. In response, Russia is requiring U.S. diplomats to leave well before the end of three years, is giving them two weeks to leave the country, and is calling it the same. It is not the same."
Earlier Russian Ambassador to the U.S. Anatoly Antonov said that Russia would comply with the State Department requirement for 27 Russian Embassy employees to leave Washington by January 30. Another 28 are due to leave by June 30 this year.