Russia: UN Chief Turns Blind Eye over US Visa Delays

Russia's Foreign Ministry accused the U.N. secretary general of turning a blind eye to what Moscow says is U.S. delays in issuing visas for Russian officials seeking to travel to the U.N. headquarters in New York.

Moscow says Washington has deliberately delayed issuing visas to Russian officials traveling to the U.N. headquarters, a move Russia has said could further damage strained relations.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement that some Defense Ministry officials who were due to travel to the U.N. secretariat had to wait "months" for visa clearance.

"It is noticeable, that all that is happening with the sheer connivance from the U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who effectively ignores United States' breaches into the U.N. Charter," she said.

Russia summoned a senior U.S. diplomat in September to protest over what it said was Washington's unacceptable refusal to issue visas to members of a Russian delegation traveling to the U.N. General Assembly.