MOSCOW, (MILLAT+APP/AFP): A plane carrying 35 Russian diplomats
expelled from the United States over Moscow’s alleged interference in the presidential election took off from Washington on Sunday, Russian news agencies reported.
“The plane has taken off, everyone is on board,” said the Russian
embassy in Washington, quoted by the state-owned RIA Novosti agency.
Relatives of the diplomats are also onboard the plane flown specially from Russia, for a total of 96 passengers onboard.
The expulsions were part of a package of sanctions ordered by President Barack Obama on Thursday in the final weeks of his administration.
“We can confirm that the 35 Russian diplomats declared persona non grata have, along with their family members, departed the United States,” a State Department spokesman told AFP.