Embassy of Russia in London | |
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Location | Kensington, London |
Address | 6/7 Kensington Palace Gardens, London, W8 4QP |
Coordinates | 51°30′28.1″N0°11′27.4″W / 51.507806°N 0.190944°W |
The Embassy of Russia in London is the diplomatic mission of Russia in the United Kingdom. [1] The main building and Consular section is located at 5 and 6-7 Kensington Palace Gardens at the junction with Bayswater Road; the Ambassador's Residence is located in a separate building at 13 Kensington Palace Gardens (Harrington House). [2] Russia also maintains a Defence Attaché's Office at 44 Millfield Lane, Highgate, and an Office of the Trade Representative at 33 Highgate West Hill, Highgate. [3]
The embassy of the Russian Empire was located at Chesham Place, Belgravia; [4] this then functioned as the Embassy of the new Soviet Union from 1924 to 1927. [5] Diplomatic relations were suspended during the period 1927–1929, and following their resumption the Soviet government moved to the various buildings on Kensington Palace Gardens.
In 1946 the Soviet government bought Seacox Heath, a country house in East Sussex, as a weekend retreat for its staff. [6]
Following the dissolution of the USSR, the Russian Federation inherited the former Soviet properties in the UK. [7] But this was not recognized by Ukraine and in 1999 it initiated litigation, which like the case with most other former Soviet embassies around the world, left the situation unresolved. [8] [9] Although previously the Russian Federation was able to register its property rights, it since then lost the rights to sell or rent it out. [10] In 2022 it was reported that the British Government was considering gifting the house at Seacox Heath to the Ukrainian Government as compensation for the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. [11]
The embassy has seen several protests over the years:
During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, it was alleged that Russian planes bombed a children's hospital in Mariupol, Ukraine. Tweets from the Embassy of Russia about this were deleted by Twitter because the tweets were in violation of the Twitter Rules, specifically the 'Hateful Conduct and Abusive Behavior' policies related to the denial of violent events. [20]
Bayswater Road is the main road running along the northern edge of Hyde Park in London. Originally part of the A40 road, it is now designated part of the A402 road.
Kensington Palace Gardens is an exclusive street in Kensington, west of central London, near Kensington Gardens and Kensington Palace. Entered through gates at either end and guarded by sentry boxes, it was the location of the London Cage, the British government MI19 centre used during the Second World War and the Cold War. Several foreign diplomatic missions are located along it.
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Leicester FitzGerald Charles Stanhope, 5th Earl of Harrington, CB, styled The Honourable Leicester Stanhope until 1851, was an English peer and soldier.
The Embassy of Ukraine in London is the diplomatic mission of Ukraine in the United Kingdom. Ukraine also maintains a consulate at 78 Kensington Park Road, Notting Hill.
13 Kensington Palace Gardens, also known as Harrington House, is the former London townhouse of the Earls of Harrington. It is now the official residence of the Russian Ambassador. There were earlier Harrington Houses in London, located at Craig's Court, Charing Cross and at Stable Yard, St James's.
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Seacox Heath is a house in the village of Ticehurst in East Sussex, England. It is owned by the Russian government and is used a weekend retreat by the staff of their embassy in London.