The Foreign Ministry has not said whether any action has been taken against Permanent Representative to the UN Ali Naseer Mohamed or others involved in a leaked WhatsApp exchange that described a formal Russian communication as “diplomatic trash.”
The screenshot, verified by ministry sources, showed senior state attorney Fathimath Nadha sharing a Russian note in a group that included ambassadors and senior Foreign Ministry staff. The note was sent after the Maldives co-sponsored an ICC report against Russia at the UN. Naseer replied that the message was “diplomatic trash” and said the ministry should ignore it. Two members reacted with laughing emojis. Social media posts claim one of them was Foreign Minister Abdulla Khaleel, but this has not been confirmed. Neither the ministry nor the Muizzu government has commented.
The leak surfaced as Russia cancelled the credential ceremony for Ambassador-designate Abdul Raheem for a second time, according to ministry sources. They said relations have become strained. Russia remains one of the Maldives’ key tourist source markets.
There is no indication from the ministry of any steps taken in response to the leaked messages. Foreign Minister Khaleel did not respond to requests for comment.