US denies visa to Russian Deputy FM Aliov for UN Security Council meeting in New York

The United States has refused to issue a visa to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Alimov, who was set to attend open debates at the UN Security Council. Russia's UN Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya announced the decision.

The United States has denied entry to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Alimov, blocking him from participating in open debates at the UN Security Council in New York. Russia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, announced the visa refusal publicly.

Alimov had been scheduled to represent Russia at the UN Security Council session, but Washington's decision to withhold the visa prevented his attendance. As the host country of the UN headquarters, the United States is generally obligated under a 1947 agreement to grant access to foreign diplomats attending UN meetings — a requirement that has periodically been a source of tension between Washington and Moscow.

This is not the first time the US has denied visas to Russian officials seeking to participate in UN proceedings. Such moves are widely viewed as a diplomatic signal, reflecting the deep deterioration in US-Russia relations amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. Russia has previously lodged formal complaints over similar visa denials, arguing they violate the UN Headquarters Agreement.