Embassy of Russia, London

The Embassy of Russia in London is the diplomatic mission of Russia in the United Kingdom.[1] The main building and Consular section is located at 5 and 6-7 Kensington Palace Gardens at the junction with Bayswater Road; the Ambassador's Residence is located in a separate building at 13 Kensington Palace Gardens (Harrington House).[2] Russia also maintains a Defence Attaché's Office at 44 Millfield Lane, Highgate, and an Office of the Trade Representative at 33 Highgate West Hill, Highgate.[3]

Embassy of Russia in London
LocationKensington, London
Address6/7 Kensington Palace Gardens, London, W8 4QP
Coordinates51°30′28.1″N 0°11′27.4″W

History

The embassy of the Russian Empire was located at Chesham Place, Belgravia;[4] this then functioned as the Embassy of the new Soviet Union from 1924 to 1927.[5] Diplomatic relations were suspended during the period 1927–1929, and following their resumption the Soviet government moved to the various buildings on Kensington Palace Gardens.

Following the dissolution of the USSR, the Russian Federation inherited the former Soviet properties in the UK.[6] But this was not recognized by Ukraine and in 1999 it initiated litigation, which like the case with most other former Soviet embassies around the world, left the situation unresolved.[7][8] Although previously the Russian Federation was able to register its property rights, it since then lost the rights to sell or rent it out.[9] Due to recent Russian aggression against Ukraine, His Majesty's Government is reviewing the possibility of seizing one of the properties belonging to the Embassy, Seacox Heath Castle in Kent.[10]

Protests

The embassy has seen several protests over the years:

During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, it was alleged that Russian planes bombed a children's hospital in Mariupol, Ukraine. Tweets from the Embassy of Russia about this were deleted by Twitter because the tweets were in violation of the Twitter Rules, specifically the 'Hateful Conduct and Abusive Behavior' policies related to the denial of violent events.[19]

  • The embassy as seen from Bayswater Road
    The embassy as seen from Bayswater Road
  • Plaque outside the embassy on Bayswater Road in English and Russian depicting the Coat of arms of Russia
    Plaque outside the embassy on Bayswater Road in English and Russian depicting the Coat of arms of Russia
  • The Ambassador's Residence at 13 Kensington Palace Gardens
    The Ambassador's Residence at 13 Kensington Palace Gardens

See also

References
  1. "The London Diplomatic List" (PDF). 8 December 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 December 2013.
  2. "The London Diplomatic List" (PDF). 8 December 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 December 2013.
  3. "The London Diplomatic List" (PDF). 8 December 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 December 2013.
  4. "No.13 Kensington Palace Gardens: Harrington House". 8 December 2013. Archived from the original on 5 March 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  5. "No.13 Kensington Palace Gardens: Harrington House". 8 December 2013. Archived from the original on 5 March 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  6. "No.13 Kensington Palace Gardens: Harrington House". 8 December 2013. Archived from the original on 5 March 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  7. Закордонні активи СРСР: що досі не поділили Росія й Україна
  8. Свое среди чужих
  9. Раздел СССР затянулся на десятилетия
  10. Hollingsworth, Mark; Midolo, Emanuele (9 July 2022). "Seacox Heath castle retreat 'used by Russian spies' may be seized". The Times. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  11. "Campaigners condemn Russia's use of cluster bombs". 19 August 2008. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  12. Bloxham, Andy (10 August 2008). "Anti-Russian protest by pro-Georgians outside London embassy". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  13. "London protest against Russia ban on Moscow Gay Pride". 1 July 2011. Archived from the original on 26 August 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  14. "Russian Embassy protest supports 'Pussy Riot' - London". 23 April 2012. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  15. "Russia protests to Britain regarding attack on Russian Embassy in London". Vestnik Kavkaza. 17 August 2012. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  16. "Jude Law joins protest over Greenpeace piracy charges". BBC News. 5 October 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  17. "Protest to free Kieron Bryan at the Russian Embassy, London". 2 November 2013. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  18. Grafton-Green, Patrick (12 April 2017). "Hundreds protest against 'gay concentration camps' in Chechnya outside London's Russian Embassy". Evening Standard. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  19. Elias, Jennifer (10 March 2022). "Twitter removes tweets by Russian Embassy in United Kingdom for denying 'violent events' in Ukraine". CNBC. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.