The Russian Trade Representative in the United States Alexander Stadnik said that the seizure and the search at the country’s trade mission in Washington, D.C. constituted the U.S. authorities’ “raiding” of Russia’s foreign property.

“We worked in the round-the-clock mode and, of course, tried to take away as much as possible to ensure our ability to function in full and normal conditions at a new venue. Everything that is necessary for work and livelihood of our employees has been taken out,” Mr. Stadnik said. The trade envoy noted that Russia’s Trade Representation Office will now be housed within the Russian Embassy.

“In all, we became witnesses of a striking example of vandalism in the system of international relations, a raider-style seizure of Russia’s property abroad,” Trade Representative Stadnik emphasized.

A representative of the Russian Embassy Nikolay Lakhonin reported that Embassy personnel were allowed to enter the trade mission’s premises following insistent requests to the American side.

Earlier, the Russian Ambassador Anatoly Antonov said that Moscow will work quietly and professionally with the new decision regarding the Russian diplomatic missions, expressing hope that the relations between the U.S. and Russia do not deteriorate further.

On August 31, 2017, U.S. authorities demanded the Russian government to close down the consulate in San Francisco, as well as two diplomatic buildings in Washington, D.C. and New York. At the same time, U.S. officials wanted to avoid additional counter-measures from the Russian side. The Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed regret in connection with the American authorities’ decision.