The Embassy of Russia in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday said that two Russian women detained last week at Camp Pendleton should receive the “full respect for their rights.” (Zachary Dyer/U.S. Marine Corps)
The Embassy of Russia in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday said that two Russian women detained last week at Camp Pendleton should receive the “full respect for their rights.”
The Russians said in an unsigned statement late Wednesday that they have filed a diplomatic note with the U.S. State Department over the incident.
“According to information from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) dated January 26 of this year, two Russian citizens (female) were turned over to them following their ‘unauthorized entry’ onto the grounds of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in California,” the Russian embassy said. “They are currently being held at a local detention center pending repatriation.”
Guards at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton detained two Russian women last week and turned them over to ICE agents for possible “repatriation,” according to Russian media accounts on Wednesday.
The TASS News Agency and Russia Today reported the women had been driving cross-country and were looking for a nearby McDonald’s when they turned the wrong way off Interstate 5 in northern San Diego County and arrived at the base gate of the Marines’ largest installation on the West Coast.
Camp Pendleton issued a statement on Thursday saying base officials would not discuss any details of the reports from the Russian embassy or Russian media.
“For operational and security purposes, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton does not discuss individual enforcement matters or force protection measures,” the statement said.
The statement noted that “Individuals seeking access to the base are required to present valid credentials at all entry control points, and unauthorized access is not permitted.”
The statement said it was standard procedure to cooperate with U.S. agencies.
“Camp Pendleton coordinates with federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as appropriate,” the statement said.
ICE had not responded Thursday to a request for information. The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to questions Thursday.
SHOT, a popular channel for Russians on the social media app Telegram, said in a post that the two women, named Kristina and Natasha, from the Samara district near the Volga region in Russia, were driving to San Diego when they became hungry and used an app to find the nearest McDonald’s.
Between the Orange County border and the city of Oceanside, the Marine base occupies much of both the east and western sides of Interstate 5, with some public areas for drivers to pull off.
The women said they made a wrong turn, which led them to a Marine checkpoint, according to Russia Today.
“Their car was impounded, and they have been in custody for at least three days,” according to the item posted Monday to Telegram.
The Russians said they have requested more information about the detainment of the two women.
“Staff from the Consular Section of the Russian Embassy in Washington are in contact with U.S. immigration authorities to clarify the circumstances of the incident and to demand full respect for their rights,” the statement said. “To date, no official notification has been received from the U.S. Department of State, to which a corresponding diplomatic note was sent.”
