Spy case: Russia, US envoys leave Washington, St. Petersburg

  • Two children embrace as people gather and board a bus at the Russian Embassy in Washington, Saturday, March 31, 2018. A group of Russian diplomats, who earlier in the week were ordered by the US Administration to leave the country, and their families have left Russia’s embassy and will fly to Moscow. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Carolyn Kaster

  • A security guard peeks out the door as Russian police officers guard the entrance, at the U.S. consulate in St.Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, March 31, 2018. Russia announced the expulsion of more than 150 diplomats, including 60 Americans, on Thursday and said it was closing a U.S. consulate in retaliation for the wave of Western expulsions of Russian diplomats over the poisoning of an ex-spy and his daughter in Britain, a tit-for-tat response that intensified the Kremlin's rupture with the United States and Europe. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky) Dmitri Lovetsky

  • The British Embassy building, foreground, with the Russian Foreign Ministry building, background right, in Moscow, Russia, Friday, March 30, 2018. The Russian Foreign Ministry said Friday it has ordered Britain to reduce the number of its diplomats in Moscow to the level that Russia has in London, escalating a diplomatic war with the West over the poisoning of an ex-Russian spy in Britain. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) Alexander Zemlianichenko

  • A consulate employee lifts up the U.S. flag at the U.S. consulate in St.Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, March 31, 2018. The flag was flown at half-mast to mourn victims of Kemerovo fire killing 64 people. Russia announced the expulsion of more than 150 diplomats, including 60 Americans, on Thursday and said it was closing a U.S. consulate in retaliation for the wave of Western expulsions of Russian diplomats over the poisoning of an ex-spy and his daughter in Britain, a tit-for-tat response that intensified the Kremlin's rupture with the United States and Europe. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky) Dmitri Lovetsky

  • Men carry boxes and packs out from the U.S. consulate as a Russian police officer guards the entrance, in St.Petersburg, Russia, Friday, March 30, 2018. Russia announced the expulsion of more than 150 diplomats, including 60 Americans, on Thursday and said it was closing a U.S. consulate in retaliation for the wave of Western expulsions of Russian diplomats over the poisoning of an ex-spy and his daughter in Britain, a tit-for-tat response that intensified the Kremlin's rupture with the United States and Europe. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky) Dmitri Lovetsky

  • A security guard carries packs out from the U.S. consulate in St.Petersburg, Russia, Friday, March 30, 2018. Russia announced the expulsion of more than 150 diplomats, including 60 Americans, on Thursday and said it was closing a U.S. consulate in retaliation for the wave of Western expulsions of Russian diplomats over the poisoning of an ex-spy and his daughter in Britain, a tit-for-tat response that intensified the Kremlin's rupture with the United States and Europe. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky) Dmitri Lovetsky

  • The U.S. flag flies at half-staff to mourn victims of the Kemerovo fire killing 64 people, outside the U.S. consulate in St.Petersburg, Russia, Friday, March 30, 2018, with the rising moon in the background. Russia announced the expulsion of more than 150 diplomats, including 60 Americans, on Thursday and said it was closing a U.S. consulate in retaliation for the wave of Western expulsions of Russian diplomats over the poisoning of an ex-spy and his daughter in Britain, a tit-for-tat response that intensified the Kremlin's rupture with the United States and Europe. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky) Dmitri Lovetsky

  • A woman seated behind the bus driver wipes her eye as she and other passengers leave the Russian Embassy in Washington, Saturday, March 31, 2018. A group of Russian diplomats, who earlier in the week were ordered by the US Administration to leave the country, and their families have left Russia's embassy and will fly to Moscow. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Carolyn Kaster

  • People gather around departing vehicles at the Russian Embassy in Washington, Saturday, March 31, 2018. A group of Russian diplomats, who earlier in the week were ordered by the US Administration to leave the country, and their families have left Russia's embassy and will fly to Moscow. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Carolyn Kaster

  • People walk down the driveway from the Russian Embassy in Washington, Saturday, March 31, 2018, after a bus and other vehicles departed . A group of Russian diplomats, who earlier in the week were ordered by the US Administration to leave the country, and their families have left Russia's embassy and will fly to Moscow. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Carolyn Kaster

  • A bus and other vehicles drive from the Russian Embassy in Washington, Saturday, March 31, 2018. A group of Russian diplomats, who earlier in the week were ordered by the US Administration to leave the country, and their families have left Russia's embassy and will fly to Moscow. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Carolyn Kaster

  • People gather as a bus and other vehicles are loaded at the Russian Embassy in Washington, Saturday, March 31, 2018. A group of Russian diplomats, who earlier in the week were ordered by the US Administration to leave the country, and their families have left Russia's embassy and will fly to Moscow. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Carolyn Kaster

  • Bus passengers hold up a Russian flag as they leave the Russian Embassy in Washington, Saturday, March 31, 2018. A group of Russian diplomats, who earlier in the week were ordered by the US Administration to leave the country, and their families have left Russia's embassy and will fly to Moscow. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Carolyn Kaster

  • Vehicles leave the Russian Embassy in Washington, Saturday, March 31, 2018. A group of Russian diplomats, who earlier in the week were ordered by the US Administration to leave the country, and their families have left Russia’s embassy and will fly to Moscow. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Carolyn Kaster

  • People gather to board vehicles at the Russian Embassy in Washington, Saturday, March 31, 2018. A group of Russian diplomats, who earlier in the week were ordered by the US Administration to leave the country, and their families have left Russia’s embassy and will fly to Moscow. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Carolyn Kaster

  • Vehicles leave the Russian Embassy in Washington, Saturday, March 31, 2018. A group of Russian diplomats, who earlier in the week were ordered by the US Administration to leave the country, and their families have left Russia’s embassy and will fly to Moscow. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Carolyn Kaster

  • People gather and board a bus at the Russian Embassy in Washington, Saturday, March 31, 2018. A group of Russian diplomats, who earlier in the week were ordered by the US Administration to leave the country, and their families have left Russia’s embassy and will fly to Moscow. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Carolyn Kaster

  • A woman takes a group photograph as people gather and board a bus at the Russian Embassy in Washington, Saturday, March 31, 2018. A group of Russian diplomats, who earlier in the week were ordered by the US Administration to leave the country, and their families have left Russia’s embassy and will fly to Moscow. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Carolyn Kaster

  • Military cadets walk past the U.S. consulate in St.Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, March 31, 2018. Russia announced the expulsion of more than 150 diplomats, including 60 Americans, on Thursday and said it was closing a U.S. consulate in retaliation for the wave of Western expulsions of Russian diplomats over the poisoning of an ex-spy and his daughter in Britain, a tit-for-tat response that intensified the Kremlin's rupture with the United States and Europe. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky) Dmitri Lovetsky

  • Thomas Leary, the U.S. Consul General in St.Petersburg speaks as goods are loaded onto a truck outside the U.S. consulate in St.Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, March 31, 2018. Russia announced the expulsion of more than 150 diplomats, including 60 Americans, on Thursday and ordered the closing of the U.S. consulate in St. Petersburg by Saturday evening in retaliation for the wave of Western expulsions of Russian diplomats over the poisoning of an ex-spy and his daughter in Britain. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky) Dmitri Lovetsky

  • Thomas Leary, the U.S. Consul General in St.Petersburg, 2nd right, observes as goods are loaded onto a truck outside the U.S. consulate in St.Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, March 31, 2018. Russia announced the expulsion of more than 150 diplomats, including 60 Americans, on Thursday and ordered the closing of the U.S. consulate in St. Petersburg by Saturday evening in retaliation for the wave of Western expulsions of Russian diplomats over the poisoning of an ex-spy and his daughter in Britain. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky) Dmitri Lovetsky

  • Consulate employees remove the U.S flag at the U.S. consulate in St.Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, March 31, 2018. Russia announced the expulsion of more than 150 diplomats, including 60 Americans, on Thursday and said it was closing a U.S. consulate in retaliation for the wave of Western expulsions of Russian diplomats over the poisoning of an ex-spy and his daughter in Britain, a tit-for-tat response that intensified the Kremlin's rupture with the United States and Europe. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky) Dmitri Lovetsky

  • Thomas Leary, the U.S. Consul General in St.Petersburg, centre, observes as goods are loaded onto a truck outside the U.S. consulate in St.Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, March 31, 2018. Russia announced the expulsion of more than 150 diplomats, including 60 Americans, on Thursday and ordered the closing of the U.S. consulate in St. Petersburg by Saturday evening in retaliation for the wave of Western expulsions of Russian diplomats over the poisoning of an ex-spy and his daughter in Britain. AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky) Dmitri Lovetsky

  • Goods are loaded onto a truck outside the U.S. consulate as a Russian police officer guards the entrance in St.Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, March 31, 2018. Russia announced the expulsion of more than 150 diplomats, including 60 Americans, on Thursday and ordered the closing of the U.S. consulate in St. Petersburg by Saturday evening in retaliation for the wave of Western expulsions of Russian diplomats over the poisoning of an ex-spy and his daughter in Britain. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky) Dmitri Lovetsky

  • Thomas Leary, the U.S. Consul General in St.Petersburg, centre, loads a sack onto a truck at the U.S. consulate as a Russian police officer guards the entrance, Saturday, March 31, 2018. Russia announced the expulsion of more than 150 diplomats, including 60 Americans, on Thursday and ordered the closing of the U.S. consulate in St. Petersburg by Saturday evening in retaliation for the wave of Western expulsions of Russian diplomats over the poisoning of an ex-spy and his daughter in Britain. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky) Dmitri Lovetsky

Published: 3/31/2018 10:13:26 PM

Russian diplomats and their families climbed aboard buses and left their embassy in Washington on Saturday while across the Atlantic, American envoys took down the flag from outside the U.S. Consulate in St. Petersburg, loaded up boxes, closed the office down and headed home.

The moves were the latest in a spy poisoning case that has escalated East-West tensions, with both sides expelling more than 150 of each other’s diplomats from two dozen countries.

Britain has insisted that the Russian government was behind the nerve agent poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter March 4 in the English city of Salisbury, a charge the Russians vehemently deny.

The Tass news agency says all of the 60 Russian diplomats ordered out of the United States were heading for a homebound flight Saturday night.

In St. Petersburg, workers at the U.S. consulate hurried to meet the Saturday deadline to close the consulate, imposed by Russia just two days earlier. U.S. Consul-General Thomas Leary said “we are ready to leave.”

British officials, meanwhile, are considering Russia’s request for access to the daughter of the former Russian double agent.


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