Assange: US Seizure of Russian Diplomatic Property 'Beyond the Pale'

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said Friday that the seizure of Russian diplomatic property in the United States is seen as "beyond the pale" by the global diplomatic community.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Seizure of Russian diplomatic property in the United States is viewed by the global community as a move that goes far beyond the framework of international law, Julian Assange, the founder of the WikiLeaks whistleblowing online platform said Friday.

"[Former US President Barack] Obama's seizure of two Russian embassy properties is seen by the global diplomatic community as beyond the pale. Why? Not because of any great love of Russia. But because it places all embassies everywhere at risk by setting a new norm," Assange posted on his official Twitter account.

1/ Expelling "diplomats" is perfectly lawful. But seizing diplomatic property is a clear and dangerous breach of the Vienna Convention.

— Julian Assange (@JulianAssange) 14 июля 2017 г.

​He added that Russia could take the case to the International Court of Justice and "win within months."

"The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations is not just some obscure international law. It is the foundation of all diplomatic law…. As both the US and Russia are signatories to the Optional Protocol on Disputes any time Russia wants to it can take the case to the International Court of Justice and win within months," Assange concluded.

In December 2016, then-US President Barack Obama’s administration approved a sanctions package against Russia due to its alleged interference in the US election. The measures included barring access to two diplomatic compounds in use by the Russian Embassy in Washington and Russia’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York. At the same time, 35 Russian diplomats were expelled from the United States.

On Thursday, Deputy Assistant to US President Donald Trump Sebastian Gorka said that the White House was considering the possibility of returning Russian diplomatic property in the United States to Russia as a way of giving cooperation between Moscow and Washington a chance.

Earlier on Friday, the Russian Foreign Ministry noted that Moscow was ready to expel US diplomats in the event Washington failed to return Russian diplomatic property in New York and Maryland. The ministry's spokeswoman also said that Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov would address the issue during his meeting with US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas Shannon in Washington on July 17.