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‘Illegal clownery’: Foreign ministry condemns US searches of Russia's diplomatic property (VIDEOS) ‘Illegal, meaningless clownery’: Russia condemns US searches of diplomatic property
(about 2 hours later)
The FBI has conducted searches at the Russian diplomatic compounds in the US, which Russia's foreign ministry’s spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova called "meaningless clownery." Russian diplomats have been posting photo and video evidence of what she called a “travesty of justice.” The FBI has conducted searches at Russian diplomatic compounds in the US, which the Russian Foreign Ministry calls “meaningless clownery.” Russian diplomats have posted photo and video evidence of what they call a “travesty of justice.”
“I am watching the footage of the FBI searches of Russian foreign missions and I think that this is some kind of hellish clownery [which is] stupid, illegal [and] meaningless,” Zakharova wrote on her Facebook page. “I am watching the footage of the FBI searches of Russian foreign missions and I think that this is some kind of hellish clownery [which is] stupid, illegal [and] meaningless,” Zakharova wrote on her Facebook page. 
On their Facebook page, the Russian Foreign Ministry published what it called “video evidence of illegal actions by the US authorities.” "What for?! To show all the power of the American special services?” she said.On their Facebook page, the Russian Foreign Ministry published what it called “video evidence of illegal actions by the US authorities.”
The first such posts, from the shut San Francisco consulate, have appeared on the Russian foreign ministry's official Facebook page. Calling the afternoon FBI searches conducted under the auspices of the US State Department in San Francisco, New York, and Washington an “invasion,” the ministry said that the “examination” of Russian diplomatic property constitutes a “violation of international law and their own legislation.”
One of the videos shows a man climbing a ladder to apparently check inside the ventilation system. Searches of the consulate in San Francisco and two auxiliary offices in Washington and New York began at 2:00 pm local time, after the US State Department ordered the foreign ministry on August 31 to vacate the premises by September 2.The FBI arrived in at least two vehicles to search the San Francisco Consulate. The minute the deadline expired, agents entered the Russian-owned diplomatic property, which in 2016 alone issued more than 16,000 tourist visas to American citizens, according to the consulate’s statement.
A description of the video from the trade mission in DC says US authorities “have invaded Russian diplomatic facilities & are conducting an ‘examination’ of the premises." One video posted online shows FBI agents examining the apartments section of the Consulate General of Russia in San Francisco.
Earlier, Russian embassy’s spokesman, Nikolay Lakhonin told media that the searches at Russia's diplomatic facilities would start immediately after them being closed to personnel at 14:00 (local time) (18:00 GMT). The operation would be carried out under the auspices of the US State Department, he added. Another video shows FBI agents trying to gain access to the attic or the ventilation system.
Russian embassy staff were allowed to be present during the search following an “insistent demand,” Lakhonin said. Video released by the Russian Foreign Ministry of its building in Washington also showed an FBI presence. The video was accompanied by pictures showing completely empty rooms inside the trade mission building.
The head of the Russian trade mission in the US, Aleksandr Stadnik, told journalists that he considers the searches at the compounds as a takeover in violation of international law. He confirmed that the US authorities lifted diplomatic immunity from the trade mission compound in Washington, DC. The Russian Foreign Ministry also released videos showing US authorities conducting an “examination of the premises” at the Russian Trade Representative Office in Washington.
The trade mission would continue its work at the Russian embassy in Washington, Stadnik said.
The Trump administration ordered the closure of Russia’s consulate in San Francisco as well as the two annexes in Washington and New York on August 31. Ahead of the searches, Russia summoned the deputy chief of mission of the US Embassy in Moscow to lodge a note of protest over the plan to search the trade mission in Washington. 
On Friday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said the FBI was planning to search the general consulate premises, including homes of diplomatic staff, which would violate diplomatic immunity.
On Saturday, Russia summoned the deputy chief of mission of the US Embassy in Moscow to lodge a note of protest over US plans to search the Russian trade mission in Washington.
Moscow said it considers the inspections “an aggressive action,” which could also be used by US intelligence to “orchestrate an anti-Russian provocation by planting compromising items.”
READ MORE: Moscow hands in note of protest to US over plan to search trade mission in WashingtonREAD MORE: Moscow hands in note of protest to US over plan to search trade mission in Washington
Moscow said it considers the planned inspections “an aggressive action” which could also be used by US intelligence to “orchestrate an anti-Russian provocation by planting compromising items.”
“In a nutshell, we are witnessing such a vivid example of vandalism in the system of international relations, the raiding and seizure of Russian property abroad,” the head of the Russian trade mission in Washington, Alexander Stadnik, told RT’s Ruptly video agency.
“We certainly did not expect such uninvited guests and they were not welcomed,” Stadnik said, adding that their work continues.
No videos of searches conducted in New York City were released by the ministry, but people were seen going in and out of the Consulate-General prior to the arrival of the search team.
A diplomatic row between Russia and the US started in December 2016, triggered by former US President Barack Obama, who expelled 35 Russian diplomats and confiscated two Russian diplomatic compounds. It followed allegations by the US that Moscow had meddled in the 2016 presidential election – a claim that Russia has strongly denied.
At that time, the Kremlin denounced Washington’s actions as a “witch hunt,” but did not take any retaliatory measures, as it was hoping to restore relations with the US under the incoming president, Donald Trump.
The issue regarding the Russian diplomatic property confiscated in December 2016 was, however, never addressed by the Trump administration. In July, the US Congress adopted new legislation that limited President Trump’s ability to formulate foreign policy towards Russia by barring him from easing sanctions on Russia without congressional approval. The new legislation also imposed new sanctions on Moscow.
In response, the Kremlin ordered the US State Department to reduce the number of personnel in Russia and to bring it in line with the number of Russian diplomatic staff in the US. Moscow also ordered Washington to suspend use of a warehouse and a suburban residence in the Russian capital by US mission staff.