PARIS, February 24. /TASS/. The French foreign ministry has condemned the attack on Russia’s consulate general in Marseille.
"France condemns any infringements on the security of diplomatic missions," the ministry’s press service said in reply to a TASS inquiry.
The ministry stressed that all diplomatic missions are protected under the Vienna Conventions on Diplomatic Relations and "France is fully committed to them." "The inviolability, protection and integrity of diplomatic and consular premises and their employees are the fundamental principles of international law," the press service added.
Russia’s Consulate General told TASS earlier that unidentified individuals had thrown three objects onto the premises of the diplomatic mission, and two of them exploded. According to preliminary information, there were no casualties, and no damage was reported to the Consulate General building.
Police confirmed reports about the tree objects, saying these were plastic containers or bottles with unidentified liquid. According to Reuters, bomb disposal units conducted two controlled detonations of the suspicious objects left after the attack.
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told TASS that the explosions "bear all the characteristics of a terrorist attack." This is why the Foreign Ministry demands from France comprehensive and swift investigative actions, as well as measures to bolster the security of Russian diplomatic missions. The Russian embassy in France said that it had earlier asked the French authorities to enhance security near Russian diplomatic missions. IT also said that it is touch with the French police to be updated about the identity of the attackers.
The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) stated on February 19 that Kiev was considering executing terrorist attacks against Russian diplomatic facilities in Europe, particularly in Germany, the Baltic States, and Scandinavia. According to the service, it is likely that Ukrainians will choose Slovakia and Hungary for such operations. The SVR believes that this promises Kiev "additional benefits," since EU countries that take a special position on the conflict in Ukraine will be discredited.