MOSCOW: Moscow announced on Thursday that UK diplomats working in Russia will need to notify authorities in advance about their movements around the country.
Russia’s foreign ministry said in a statement that it had summoned the UK’s charge d’affaires Tom Dodd to inform him of a notification procedure for the movement of workers of British diplomatic missions in Russia.
The statement said that the steps were in response to the “hostile actions” of UK, an important ally of Ukraine, and British moves affecting the normal operation of Russian foreign mission in the United Kingdom, AFP reported.
The procedure would be required for “accredited personnel” of the UK embassy in Moscowc and the consulate general in Yekaterinburg, in the Urals.
It will not apply to the UK ambassador and a few other top diplomats.
Instructions for diplomats
The diplomats will need to notify authorities of at least 5 working days of travel outside the “120-kilometre free movement zone, according to the ministry.
It said that this should include information about the timings, type of trip, planned business contacts, purpose, accompanying individuals, places of visit and accommodation mode of transport, as as well as the route of the trip.
