Russia today accused the U.S. administration of refusing the visa to Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Alimov to participate in the UN General Assembly in New York as it qualified as hostile.
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22/09/2026
by
Lusa
“ They are actions that contradict the obligations of the United States as host state of the UN headquarters”, said the spokesperson for the Kremlin (presidence), Dmitri Peskov, quoted by the Russian agency TASS.
Peskov said it was another example of “hostious actions” against Russia.
He added that the question “will be put on the agenda during contacts with Americans”.
It is not the first time that the United States has prevented entry into the country of Alimov, whose visa was already refused in March.
At the time, Alimov was prevented from attending a UN Security Council debate chaired by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the principles of the United Nations Charter.
The U.S. administration, which has several elements of the Russian government under sanctions, did not comment on the case of Alimov, who has the United Nations portfolio in the ministry led by Lavrov.
Alimov devalued the U.S. decision in statements to the Russian agency Ria Novosti, although stating that it is no reason to be proud of Washington.
“ I think it is unlikely that this fact, which is not inspiring to me and is not a cause of pride for the host country of the UN headquarters, is a central news event in the context of the UN General Assembly’s high-level week,” he said.
In the light of the United Nations Headquarters Agreement, the United States has an obligation to issue visas to representatives of Member States or specialised agencies to allow them access to the headquarters of the organisation without restrictions.
Washington has argued that it may restrict the issue of visas for national security reasons.
The work of the 81st General Assembly begins today at the UN headquarters in New York, and the Russian delegation will be chaired by Minister Sergei Lavrov.
The assembly, in which some 130 heads of state and government will participate, runs until September 28.
It is the last General Assembly with António Guterres as Secretary-General of the UN.