14
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, MARCH 25-31, 2022 BXR
The 20-story Russian Diplomatic Compound,
located at 355 W. 255 St., was at the
center of a Tuesday press conference.
Photo | Jason Cohen
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BY JASON COHEN
With reports that a Russian
Diplomatic Compound located
in Riverdale is believed to be
home to foreign agents, U.S
Rep. Ritchie Torres is calling
on the FBI to investigate potential
acts of espionage.
On Tuesday, Torres, a Bronx
progressive, stood across from
the 20-story building at 355 W.
255 St., and denounced Russian
President Vladimir Putin, calling
him a “war criminal,” and
said anyone that is aiding and
abetting him in the U.S. must
be expelled.
The lawmaker said that
when Russia invaded the
Ukraine on Feb. 24, everything
changed in the world.
“We have been appalled and
alarmed by Putin’s aggression
against Ukraine,” Torres said.
“Giving everything that is happening
in the world, we can’t
afford to have war crimes abetted
in our backyard.”
Torres cited how retired
FBI Special Agent Robin
Dreeke recently told Fox News
that members of the Russian
intelligence community reside
at the compound. With a building
that dates back to the Cold
War, it is time to thoroughly
investigate everyone who is
there, Torres said.
But concerns with Russia,
and Russian operatives living
on American soil, are nothing
new.
In December 2020, Russia
orchestrated the largest cyber
attack in U.S. history called SolarWinds;
a year later the U.S.
expelled 10 Russian diplomats.
In 2016, President Barrack
Obama expelled 36 Russian
diplomats and President Donald
Trump booted 40 in 2018.
Additionally, in 2018, it was
announced that 100 Russian
spies had been living in the
U.S., and in 2015, the Southern
District of New York announced
charges against a Russian
spy ring in New York City.
“We’re concerned about the
report of espionage on the Russian
compound, which raises
the question how many of those
spies live on or near this compound,”
Torres said. “Russia
has emerged as the single
greatest threat to the United
States.”
Torres told the Bronx Times
he began hearing complaints
about possible espionage from
Riverdale residents in February,
adding that having anyone
supporting Russia’s objectives
to take control of the Ukrainian
people is simply unacceptable.
The congressman said it
would be naïve to think that
there are not Russian spies living
in or near the compound.
He said to his knowledge this
is the first time someone has
requested an investigation
into the Russian Compound in
Riverdale.
The Bronx Times reached
out to the FBI, but they declined
to comment.
Torres was joined by Rabbi
Avi Weiss of Yeshivat Chovevei
Torah in Riverdale. Weiss said
if any of the Russian diplomats
in the compound are found to
be spies, they must be expelled
from the U.S.
“From my perspective, anyone
in this building who works
for a war criminal is complicit,”
the rabbi said.
Torres also discussed his recently
proposed legislation “Reveal
Risky Business in Russia
Act,” which would require U.S.
corporations to publicly disclose
their business dealings in
Russia. The legislation aims to
hold companies accountable for
refusing to denounce Russia’s
invasion of Ukraine, and to
disincentivize countries from
engaging in amoral business
practices with oppressive governments.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelenskyy in his recent address
to Congress requested
that U.S. companies exit Russia
and cease cooperating with the
Russian government. Torres’
bill would put added pressure
on U.S. companies to make a decision
to either support Putin’s
war or stand with Ukraine and
its people. While 400 U.S. companies
have withdrawn from
Russia, according to the Yale
School of Management, many
companies still refuse to do so.
The bill would also require
a public company to disclose
in periodic reports to the SEC,
whether the company does
business in Russia or with the
Russian government.
Rep. Torres calls for FBI investigation into
Riverdale-based Russian compound