The U.S. Embassy in Moscow says it is examining Russian media reports claiming that a U.S. diplomat refused to stop for police.
Embassy spokesman Will Stevens told RFE/RL on March 22 that the embassy was "looking into this unconfirmed report" and that it is U.S. policy "to encourage our diplomatic personnel to obey local laws."
Russian media cited unidentified law-enforcement sources as saying that an aide to the military attache at the U.S. Embassy failed to stop for traffic police on March 22 while driving his personal vehicle to Domodedovo Airport south of Moscow.
The reports said the driver smelled of alcohol after police followed and confronted him in the airport parking lot.
Interfax reported that the officers wrote him a citation for allegedly refusing to stop for police.
Accredited diplomats enjoy immunity and cannot be forced to sign traffic violations or pay traffic fines.
RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.
If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.
To find out more, click here.
Editors' Picks
Listen
Top Trending Russia
1