The Russian embassy in Washington described as "impossible" plans by US senators to invite Ambassador Alexander Darchiev to a hearing on abducted Russian children.
Earlier, The Hill reported that Senators Lindsey Graham* and Brian Schatz want to invite Darchiev to testify at the hearing in the upper house of Congress.
“Any Russian participation in such a biased hearing is impossible“, the embassy said.
The diplomatic mission called the senators' initiative another provocation designed to “cover up the crimes committed by the neo-Nazi regime in Kiev against civilians, including the children of Donbas“.
“The Russian side is open to good faith cooperation to assist in the reunification of families and children from both sides of this tragic conflict, taking into account each confirmed case. Instead, we are witnessing a campaign of lies and fabrications about “tens of thousands“ of abducted minors, although the list provided by Ukraine includes 339“, the diplomatic mission added.
Earlier, the Ukrainian side handed over to Russia a list of 339 children allegedly abducted from Ukrainian territory. During a press conference after the third round of negotiations in Istanbul, the Russian presidential adviser Volodymyr Medinsky said that a large number of children on the Ukrainian list had never been to Russia. In addition, 50 names on the list belonged to adults. Some of the children have already been returned to Ukraine and this work is ongoing, the Russian side assured.