Russia Expels Deputy U.S. Ambassador from Embassy in Moscow

Feb. 17, 2022 (EIRNS)—Russia’s Foreign Ministry announced that Bart Gorman, the U.S. Deputy Ambassador to Russia, has been expelled from Russia. spokeswoman Maria Zakharova explained: “The U.S. diplomat was indeed ordered to leave Russia, but strictly in response to the unjustified expulsion of the minister-counselor of our embassy in Washington, despite his status as a senior official.”

Gorman joined the U.S. Embassy in Moscow in 2019, coming from his position as the State Department’s Assistant Director for Threat Investigations and Analysis (TIA). There, he oversaw all Diplomatic Security programs that analyze, assess, investigate, and disseminate information on threats directed against U.S. diplomatic personnel overseas and domestically. Previously, he had worked as the Director of Diplomatic Security’s Office of Intelligence and Threat Analysis, where he led a cadre of analysts and support staff responsible for enhancing the safety and security of U.S. diplomatic facilities, personnel, and other key constituencies by monitoring, analyzing, and providing warnings about threats affecting U.S. interests worldwide.

The State Department response, today, claimed that the expulsion was “unprovoked” and “an escalatory step.” A spokesperson said that Washington is “considering our response.”