Lavrov Calls Seizure of Russian Diplomatic Property in US 'Robbery'

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov considers the seizure of the Russian diplomatic compounds in the US to be a robbery.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The seizure of the Russian diplomatic compounds in the United States is a "straightforward robbery," and Russia will apply international law in order to return the arrested property back, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday.

"So it is just straightforward robbery, and the international law is entirely on ur side and we will act on the basis of international law to get it back," Lavrov said in an interview with NBC News broadcaster.

According to Lavrov, the decision of former US President Barack Obama's administration to seize the Russian diplomatic property was driven by the desire to make the life of his successor's administration "absolutely unbearable." He called for not believing people who say that the property was arrested over alleged Russia's meddling in the US elections.

"The official note which we received from the State Department said nothing about the reasons for which this property has been seized," Lavrov said.

In December 2016, the Obama administration imposed a number of sanctions against Russia over its alleged meddling in the 2016 US presidential election, including the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats and the closure of two Russian diplomatic compounds in New York and Maryland. On July 11, Lavrov warned that Moscow will take retaliatory measures against Washington if the situation with Russia's diplomatic property is not resolved.