Russians demand flag fly at now-closed consulate in Seattle

SEATTLE — There's a diplomatic fight over the now-closed Russian consulate's flag in Seattle.

The Seattle Times reports that U.S. State Department officials "respectfully" lowered the Russia flag Saturday from the Russian consul-general residence property after the mansion was vacated last month.

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The Russian Embassy has demanded it be put back, accusing the U.S. of "unacceptable treatment" of their national symbol.

They say they own the house, though the Americans say that the Russia-owned house is built on U.S. government-owned land.

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The State Department says it asked the Russians to take it down themselves because the house no longer serves as their consulate.

The consulate was shut down in response to allegations that the Russian government tried to poison a former Russian spy living in the United Kingdom.

Associated Press