Maria Zakharova, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, explained… (посол · захаров · рука)
Maria Zakharova, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, explained her refusal to shake hands with German Ambassador Alexander Lambsdorf during a meeting on July 13, attributing it to his alleged Russophobia and stating that protocol does not require reciprocating handshakes. She emphasized the gesture was a political statement.
Consensus
- Maria Zakharova refused to shake hands with German Ambassador Alexander Lambsdorf during a meeting on July 13, 2024.
- Zakharova stated that her refusal was due to the ambassador's alleged Russophobic position.
- She claimed that protocol does not require participants in negotiations to reciprocate handshakes.
- The incident occurred during a meeting at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Points of divergence
- Zakharova responded to the ambassadors of France, the UK, and Germany with poems by Alexander Pushkin and recalled that these same envoys had previously refused to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. — vm
- The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the German ambassador would leave Russia by car, contradicting claims from Germany's diplomatic mission about fuel problems in Moscow. — vesti
Coverage (6 sources)
- By my gesture I indicated my position on open Russophobia — ТАСС (Telegram)
- Zakharova explained refusal to shake hands with German ambassador as diplomat's pro-Russian stance — Вечерняя Москва
- Zakharova explained her refusal to shake hands with German ambassador Lambdorff — Вести
- "He did not deserve light": Zakharova responds to German ambassador with a quote from Bulgakov — Вечерняя Москва
- Maria Zakharova comments on the departure of the German ambassador with a quote from 'The Master and Margarita'. She noted that Alexander Lamsdorf, who is concluding his work in Russia, "did not deserve light". — ТАСС (Telegram)
- "Not Deserving of Light": Zakharova Comments on the Departure of Germany's Ambassador from Russia — Вести