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Russian diplomat involved in road accident ends mandate and is called back to Russia immediately
Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Bucharest Oleg Malginov said on Wednesday that the diplomat involved in the road accident in Bucharest ended his mandate in Romania and would be immediately called back to Russia.
Secretary of State with Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) Bogdan Aurescu received Ambassador of the Russian Federation Oleg Malginov on Wednesday, at the latter's request, for him to inform of the decision made by the Russian authorities in response to the step taken by Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Titus Corlatean to request the jurisdictional immunity of the diplomat who seriously injured a young Romanian woman to be lifted, informs MAE.
'Ambassador Oleg Malginov informed of the fact that the Russian authorities were not able to give a positive answer to the request made by Romania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Russian Ambassador reiterated the sincere regret of the Russian side for the serious consequences of the accident and their deep sympathy for the victim of the accident, her relatives and friends. He said that the relevant Russian authorities would make a minute and detailed investigation in this case and having this aim in view, they made the decision to put an end to the mandate in Bucharest of the diplomat in question and call him back to Russia immediately. The Russian Ambassador voiced hope that the bilateral relations would not be affected,' says MAE.
MAE emphasizes the fact that Secretary of State Bogdan Aurescu reacted by voicing 'the deeply felt regret' of the Romanian authorities for the Russian side not agreeing to the request of the Romanian side, taking into account the fact that giving up the jurisdictional immunity was a possibility stipulated by the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations of April 18, 1961.
'The official made the request that the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Bucharest and the diplomat in question should fully cooperate with the competent authorities in properly conducting the legal procedures stipulated by the Romanian legislation with a view to establishing the circumstances of the accident. He also conveyed the request made by the Romanian side that the Russian judiciary authorities should take the necessary measures for trying the diplomat in question as soon as possible, with the application of the outstanding provisions of the 1961 Vienna Convention, on the basis of the existing proofs and of the findings of the Romanian investigating bodies,' says MAE.
The Secretary of State reiterated the special sensitivity of this subject and also emphasized the most recent statements made by Romania's Premier Victor Ponta on Wednesday. Thus, the Secretary of State stressed the fact that Romania observed the international conventions it was part of, but firmly asked to be respected as a state in international relations. Moreover, he said that the Romanian authorities would pay all attention in an active way to the developments connected to this case.
MAE makes it clear that from the information that was subsequently made public one can infer that the Russian diplomat involved in the accident is to leave Romania's territory in a short time. MAE urgently intervened with the Russian Ambassador and stressed the fact that the diplomat leaving immediately was not justified as he benefited by diplomatic immunity anyway.
In the opinion of MAE, which was made known to the Russian side, such a rash gesture is apt to negatively affect the public perception of the approach and willingness of the Russian side to deal with this case. MAE emphasized the fact that, as the Vienna Convention guaranteed the free movement of all diplomats, leaving the territory of the state of residence included, and Romania must fully observe this legal norm, the responsibility for the effects that will be generated entirely and exclusively devolved on the Russian side.
Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Bucharest Oleg Malginov was called on Tuesday by Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Titus Corlatean in connection with the road accident that was caused on October 21 by a diplomat of the Russian diplomatic mission.
The Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs voiced the Romanian authorities' deep concern for the accident in which a Romanian citizen was seriously injured and stressed the necessity that the diplomatic agents accredited to Romania, in keeping with the relevant international law, should observe the legislation and regulations in force in the state of residence.
In this context the Minister made an oral approach asking the authorities of the Russian Federation to withdraw the jurisdictional immunity of the diplomat under consideration and stressed the Romanian side's expectations that the Embassy should fully cooperate with the Romanian authorities in investigating the circumstances of the accident. He also emphasized the necessity that justice should have its say of the responsibilities deriving from the accndent mentioned before.