Russia has accused the United States of openly abusing its privilege of hosting the headquarters of the United Nations after Washington denied visas to representatives from Moscow traveling to events at the UN headquarters in New York.

The Kremlin stated that the US authorities, following a now long and deliberate line, continue to obstruct the issuance of visas for Russian representatives traveling to the US for UN events.

"We are forced to state that this time Leonid Slutsky, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, a member of the official delegation of the Russian Federation at the 76th session of the UN General Assembly, has not received permission to enter, the composition of which was approved by the order of the President of Russia," said the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Russia reminded the American side that under the agreement on the deployment of the UN headquarters on American territory, in force since 1947, Washington has undertaken to provide unhindered conditions for the activities of foreign missions accredited to it.

"The United States is openly abusing its privilege of hosting the headquarters of the World Organisation. Washington manipulates visas to put pressure on other countries, in fact, arbitrarily determining whose representatives are allowed to participate in UN events, and who is denied access there," said the Russian MFA.

"This is gross arbitrariness and an absolutely unacceptable violation of international law, which, of course, cannot and will not remain without due reaction," the statement added.

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