Russia accuses Romania of violating the International Telecommunication Union Charter and Convention – 24.09.2022

The spokeswoman of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zaharova, accuses Romania of violating the Charter and Convention of the International Telecommunication Union, because she withdrew the visas of 14 members of the delegation that was to take part in the event scheduled to start on Monday. The Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that the 14 people, journalists of Russia Today, were improperly notified as Russian officials, informs News.ro.

Zaharova conveyed, yesterday, in a statement, that the Romanian Embassy in Moscow canceled the visas already issued for fourteen members of the Russian delegation on the eve of their departure to Bucharest to participate in the Plenipotentiary Conference of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), scheduled in between September 26 and October 14.

“Romania flagrantly violated the ITU Charter and Convention, the agreement on the organization of the Plenipotentiary Conference”, Zaharova said, accusing Romania of “fulfilling Washington’s political order”.

Russia claims that Romania’s decision is intended to affect the chances of the Russian candidate for the post of general secretary of the ITU. The Russian candidate is running against a US candidate.

In response, the Romanian MFA specified that entry visas were granted to all the officials designated by the Russian Federation as members of the official delegation of this state to the ITU Conference in Bucharest, in number of 17, according to the request of the Russian side.

“The decision of the competent Romanian authorities, based including on considerations related to the national security of Romania, which led to the revocation of some visas, referred exclusively to a number of 14 journalists of Russia Today, who were abusively notified by the Russian Federation as officials belonging to the Russian Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media. Thus, considering the aspects already specified, it is obvious that the participation and representation interests of the Russian Federation at the ITU Conference in Bucharest were not affected in any way by the adopted decision, the accusation of the Russian side according to which this measure would affect the chances of a Russian candidate to be elected to a leadership position within the organization being completely absurd and clearly unfounded,” the MFA also sent.