MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia has asked the U.S. embassy in Moscow to lift the diplomatic immunity of three of its staff suspected of stealing things from a Russian citizen, the Interfax news agency quoted the foreign ministry as saying.
If the United States refused to lift their diplomatic immunity, the three employees would have to leave Russia immediately, the foreign ministry was cited as saying.
Earlier this week the Russian foreign ministry said a U.S. congressional proposal to expel 300 Russian diplomats from the United States would lead to the closure of U.S. diplomatic facilities in Russia, if implemented.
U.S. Democratic and Republican senators urged President Joe Biden on Tuesday to expel Russian diplomats if Moscow did not issue more visas for Americans to represent Washington in Russia.
Interfax, citing a source with Russia’s law enforcement, reported earlier on Friday that three U.S. citizens from the Moscow embassy under the influence of alcohol stole a backpack from a Russian national on Sept. 18.
The Moscow police identified the three men as servicemen of the U.S. Marine Corps aged 21 to 26, Interfax reported, citing police spokesman Vladimir Vasenin.
The U.S. embassy did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
The Russian state-owned news agency Tass said the theft occurred on Sept. 18 and reported that the Interior Ministry estimated the value of the stolen data-x-items at just over $200.
A criminal case has been launched over the incident and the possible charges carry a maximum penalty of five years in jail.
Tensions are at an all-time high between Moscow and Washington over a range of issues.