US denies visa to Russian Deputy FM Alimov for UN Security Council debates

The United States has refused to grant a visa to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Alimov, blocking him from attending open debates at the UN Security Council. Russia's permanent representative to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, confirmed the denial.

The United States has denied a visa to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Alimov, preventing him from participating in open debates at the United Nations Security Council in New York. The move was confirmed by Russia's permanent representative to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya.

Alimov had been scheduled to attend the Security Council sessions as part of Russia's diplomatic delegation. The visa denial effectively bars a senior Russian official from engaging in one of the UN's key multilateral forums, where Russia holds a permanent seat.

The incident adds to a growing pattern of diplomatic friction between Washington and Moscow, with the US host-country obligations to the UN increasingly becoming a point of contention. Russia has previously accused the United States of weaponizing visa procedures to limit Russian participation in international diplomatic processes. The US has not issued a public statement explaining the grounds for the refusal.