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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Ciara Phelan

Russian Embassy in Ireland pleads for help as companies refuse to supply it with fuel

The Russian Embassy in Dublin has pleaded for help as numerous Irish oil companies have refused to deliver supplies - meaning it could be without heating and hot water.

Officials have written to Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney asking the Government to intervene before they run out.

Sources told The Irish Mirror that the department would not be stepping in.

In a letter seen by the Irish Mirror, Russian Embassy staff – ironically one of the world’s biggest oil exporters before the Ukraine invasion – have requested Foreign Affairs “intervenes into this clearly discriminatory case”.

A source said: “The embassy is struggling because no one wants to do business with them as a result of what's happening in Ukraine.

"It’s not only some oil companies they’re having issues with, it’s banks too and many more businesses.”

Protesters outside the embassy following the invasion of Ukraine (PA)

The Irish Mirror also understands that Bank of Ireland has decided to suspend their accounts with the Russian Embassy in Ireland, according to senior sources.

When contacted, a spokesman for Bank of Ireland said the firm can’t comment on any individual account. It’s understood the embassy also had both its boiler contract and fuel card account ended by separate companies.

A second source said: “The Department of Foreign Affairs wouldn’t be stepping in to get anyone anything.”

The letter sent by the embassy on March 22 reads: “The current provider of fuel to the Embassy has refused to deliver diesel to our mission.

“The Embassy checked other providers in [the] Dublin area for the availability of diesel supplies, but they have all refused to cooperate. The Embassy is left with a very limited supply that will last till the end of the week only.

The embassy has complained about 'discrimination' (PA)

“This diesel is an essential commodity, since it is used for heating and hot water supply of the Chancery, as well as the residential area of our mission. The Embassy requests that the Department intervenes into this clearly discriminatory case.”

When contacted by the Irish Mirror, the Russian Embassy refused to say if it had since secured fuel.

The Russian Ambassador’s press secretary, Nikita Isakin, said: “The Embassy does not disclose the details of its communications with the Department or any other third party.”

A Department spokesman said: “The department doesn’t comment on the operation of embassies.”

The Russian Embassy has also expressed to the Department of Foreign Affairs that Russian people living in Ireland feel unsafe and discriminated against as a result of the war in Ukraine.

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