Russian Ambassador Claims US Asked Him to Defect

All Global Research articles can be read in 51 languages by activating the “Translate Website” drop down menu on the top banner of our home page (Desktop version).

To receive Global Research’s Daily Newsletter (selected articles), click here.

Visit and follow us on InstagramTwitter and Facebook. Feel free to repost and share widely Global Research articles.

***

Russia’s ambassador to Washington has claimed that US spooks encouraged him to defect and denounce the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Anatoly Antonov told Russian state television on Wednesday that he had refused a request from US authorities to publicly criticise President Vladimir Putin.

“I recently received a letter by mail, with a call to denounce my motherland and condemn the Russian president’s actions,” he said.

“And I was recommended to make an inquiry to the office of US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman if I am ready to accept the proposal.”

Mr Antonov said that staff at the Russian embassy had also been asked to “communicate with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

“When I see US media publications calling upon Russian servicemen and diplomats to betray their homeland, I have no words to describe my rejection of such moves,” he said.

The diplomat described Moscow’s relations with Washington as at an unprecedented low, with dialogue between the two sides “limited to the discussion of technical issues.”

*

Note to readers: Please click the share buttons above or below. Follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Feel free to repost and share widely Global Research articles.

Featured image: Anatoly Antonov (left) at a press conference when he was Russia’s Deputy Minister of Defence in 2015 Photo: Russian Ministry of Defence / Mil.ru.


Articles by: Morning Star

Disclaimer: The contents of this article are of sole responsibility of the author(s). The Centre for Research on Globalization will not be responsible for any inaccurate or incorrect statement in this article. The Centre of Research on Globalization grants permission to cross-post Global Research articles on community internet sites as long the source and copyright are acknowledged together with a hyperlink to the original Global Research article. For publication of Global Research articles in print or other forms including commercial internet sites, contact: [email protected]

www.globalresearch.ca contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available to our readers under the provisions of "fair use" in an effort to advance a better understanding of political, economic and social issues. The material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving it for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material for purposes other than "fair use" you must request permission from the copyright owner.

For media inquiries: [email protected]