Maria Zakharova: American Marines who stole a backpack must leave Russia

The representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova stated this on the YouTube channel "Solovyov Live". According to her, police officers promptly conducted an investigation into the incident and found the corresponding video recordings.

Since the suspects are members of the United States Embassy, they enjoy diplomatic immunity. A corresponding note was sent to the American Embassy through the Foreign Ministry. As noted by Zakharova, the American side was asked to either remove immunity from suspects, or take measures to ensure that they immediately leave the territory of the Russian Federation. Obviously, the American side preferred the second option.

As Maria Zakharova specified, the backpack was not returned to the injured Muscovite.

The incident took place in mid-September 2021. On October 8, the Russian Foreign Ministry accused three members of the Marine Corps (US Embassy administrative staff aged 21-26) of stealing a Russian's personal belongings. The American side was asked to remove immunity from suspects so that Russia could bring them to criminal responsibility.

Then the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs published video footage of which you can see how employees of the American embassy leave one of the capital's bars with a backpack, which, as it turned out, belonged to a Russian citizen.

According to the victim Dmitry Kornilov, the American marines could have taken his backpack by accident, RBC reports.