ISLAMABAD, Jan 1: Refusal by a Russian diplomat to pay fine for a traffic violation, as he could not understand English spoken by the traffic warden, landed him at Kohsar police station.

He was however released after the embassy officials reached the police station and paid the fine.

Traffic officials checking speed violations at Jinnah Avenue on Tuesday afternoon spotted a speeding vehicle, which was intercepted. The vehicle belonged to a Russian diplomat.

A traffic warden seeing that the occupant of the vehicle was a foreigner, tried communicating with him in English. But the Russian diplomat retorted in Russian and refused to pay the fine for the traffic violation.

An argument ensued in two different languages, eventually leading both parties to the police station.

At the police station, the Russian diplomat introduced himself as an employee of the Russian embassy.

Later he contacted his embassy officials who reached the police station and paid the fine.

Later the police released the diplomat along with the official car.

A senior police officer on condition of anonymity said that the whole incident happened due to lack of communication and because the diplomat refused to pay the fine.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Traffic City Circle Arshad Mehmood, when contacted confirmed that the Russian diplomat was caught in Blue Area when he was flagged for speeding by a speed camera.

“I am not aware about the details but the diplomat was taken to the police station and was released after he paid the fine,” the DSP added.