The new US ambassador to Russia, Lynn Tracy, outside the Russian Foreign Ministry in Moscow was met by several protesters, including minors, with placards and slogans with anti-American messages, Reuters reports. Tracy went to the Russian ministry to present her credentials.

The group held placards critical of Washington, one of which read “Your tanks are killing civilians.”

According to one Twitter post, a small group of protesters chanted “America is a terrorist country.”

Only pro-government protests are allowed in Russia

Protests in Russia – especially on issues related to the war – are effectively banned unless they have the support of the authorities.

When there were anti-war protests, after the announcement of partial mobilization in February, thousands of people were detained, and men of draft age were given conscription orders.

A couple dining at a restaurant in the Russian city of Krasnodar were detained by police after another customer called police to report that the two young men had expressed their disapproval of the war in a private conversation, The Moscow Times reported.

In Russia, the police often detain dissidents, including for complaints against them. However, administrative or criminal cases are usually initiated against them for publicly expressing their position.

American-Russian relations are at an all-time low

Relations between Washington and Moscow are strained and are among the most degraded in history. The United States responded to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by supplying Kiev with weapons – soon to include main battle tanks – and imposing a series of new economic sanctions against Russia, all with the connivance of Western allies.

Although there was a prisoner exchange involving US Navy veteran Trevor Reed and basketball star Brittney Griner, high-level contacts between the two sides were few and far between.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Serhiy Ryabkov told Tracy that he expects her to adhere to the principle of non-interference in Russia’s internal affairs, reports the state news agency RIA Novosti.

The US Embassy said: “Ambassador Tracy is focused on maintaining dialogue between our capitals at a time of unprecedented tension, protecting the interests of American citizens imprisoned in Russia, and maintaining ties between the American and Russian peoples.”