Russian Embassy in Washington. File photoMOSCOW, Mar 9 The Embassy called the claims made in the United States against the chairman of the Coordinating Council of Russian Compatriots Elena Branson part of the campaign against Russia. Earlier, the US Department of Justice reported that Branson was charged with illegal work as a foreign agent. On six counts, she faces up to 35 years in prison.
"The claims made are outrageous and completely unfounded. This is an element of a large-scale anti-Russian campaign that resembles a "witch hunt" in the worst tradition of McCarthy", —the embassy said.
The diplomatic mission said it views the prosecution of Branson as a hostile act. «Thus, the United States is denying people from Russia the right to maintain contact with their homeland, to take an active part in preserving their own cultural and linguistic heritage,» the embassy emphasizes. It is noted that US officials continue to ignore Moscow's calls to provide the community with basic including the first amendment to the country's constitution. «We demand an end to the persecution of compatriots,» the embassy emphasizes.Antonov told what the United States is afraid of in the situation in Ukraine about foreign agents. Commenting on this decision, Branson told RIA Novosti that at least several hundred representatives of the Russian-speaking community in the United States were interrogated by the FBI. At the moment, Branson is in Russia. for Russian officials with US politicians and business representatives, while not notifying the US authorities and not registering as a foreign agent. In addition, she was charged with involvement in fraudulent schemes for obtaining US visas for Russian officials. As noted in a statement by the Ministry of Justice, during Interrogated by the FBI in 2020, Branson provided false evidence, saying that she had never received requests from Russian officials to coordinate meetings with American politicians and businessmen. Who is not against us is with us: Russia announced the list of unfriendly countries