Visa Denial Sparks U.N. Tension: Russia Criticizes U.S. Decision

Russia has openly criticized the United States for not issuing a visa to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Alimov, effectively barring him from attending a United Nations Security Council meeting. This move was labeled by Russia's U.N. ambassador as a breach of the U.S. obligations under the U.N. Headquarters Agreement.

Vassily Nebenzia, Russia's U.N. ambassador, addressed the issue at a meeting chaired by China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi, which Alimov was supposed to attend. The U.S. State Department has not yet commented on the situation.

Nebenzia pointed out that the Headquarters Agreement mandates access to U.N. headquarters for all member state officials. Russia also deemed the visa refusal as disrespect towards China's presidency of the Security Council and the meeting's agenda on the U.N. Charter.

(With inputs from agencies.)