Russian diplomats kept away from Soviet graves in Alaska
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Alaska: The US local officials have forbidden Russian diplomats from visiting the graves of Soviet Union servicemen at a cemetery on a military base in Alaska. Nine Soviet pilots and two military personnel are buried at the cemetery.
"Unfortunately, the local American authorities, without explanation, did not allow embassy diplomats to visit the Fort Richardson National Cemetery and kneel before the graves of Soviet pilots and sailors who died in Alaska in 1942-1945," said Russian diplomat Nadezhda Shumova to state agency TASS.
According to the Russian embassy, a group of diplomats visited Anchorage Alaska on Friday and Saturday.
"Attempts to obtain access to the memorials through the State Department were unsuccessful, the diplomatic note of the (Russian) embassy in this regard was ignored," reported Reuters. The cemetery website says a permit is needed to enter the site. The cemetery is in Fort Richardson U.S. Army installation.