Russian MP wants to deploy Iskander missiles in California

Mikhail Degtyarev demands to return a part of California to Russia.

The lawmaker thinks the purchase agreement signed in the middle of the 19th century was not fulfilled by the buyer, so all further deals on reselling and allotting the land were illegal and Russia still has grounds to consider the territory of Fort Ross to be its territory, Izvestia writes.

Fort Ross was founded by 1812 on the northern coast of what is now California. It was established by the Russian-American Company that was founded under the aegis of the Russian Imperial House. Russian territories extended several tens of kilometres along the coast.

Port Rumiantsev at Rumiantsev Bay was situated 30 kilometres from Fort Ross. The Slavyanka River (now the Russian River) flew 10 km from the settlement. Three big settlements named after Kostromitinov, Chernykh and Khlebnikov were founded near Fort Ross.

Degtyarev examined the conditions of the purchase deal of 1841 and says a territorial dispute between Russia and the US is possible.

“The history of American relations in the sphere of establishing a state and occupying lands and property is killings, robberies and terror. We are not the native Americans, who were ousted by the Americans. We are the Russians and we want to legally return our money for that land. Fort Ross is Russia's property. The purchase deal is insignificant and its details are unclear. If violations of its legality are revealed, we should apply to the Supreme Court of Arbitration to return our land and deploy Iskander missiles there. The next deal we should analyse is the situation of Alaska,” Mikhail Degtyarev said.

The Russian MFA says the MP's request will be considered in due order. A response will be given within 30 days.