A leaked WhatsApp exchange among senior Maldivian officials shows Permanent Representative to the UN Ali Naseer Mohamed calling a formal letter from Russia “diplomatic trash” after the Maldives co-sponsored an ICC report against Russia at the UN.
Foreign Ministry sources have confirmed the screenshot of the chat log, which has circulated widely on social media, is genuine.
The chat shows senior state attorney Fathimath Nadha sharing the Russian note in a group that included ambassadors and senior Foreign Ministry staff. Nadha wrote that Russia was unhappy with the Maldives’ support for the ICC resolution.
Naseer replied: “It’s quite unusual for Russia to send such notes. It’s nothing more than diplomatic trash.” Two members reacted with laughing emojis. Social media posts claim one was Foreign Minister Abdulla Khaleel, but this has not been confirmed.
Naseer then wrote: “We ignore that completely and move on.”
Neither the Foreign Ministry nor the Muizzu government has commented on the matter.
The leak comes amid reports that Russia cancelled the credential ceremony for Ambassador-designate Abdul Raheem for a second time. Foreign Ministry sources say relations between the two countries have become strained. Russia remains one of the Maldives’ key tourist source markets.