Under the eye of parity
Russia could lose one of its consulates in the United States.
The us government can demand from Russia to close one of the Russian consulates in the USA. So, according to diplomatic sources, “b”, may be Washington’s response to Moscow imposed sanctions, implying a sharp reduction of the staff of the U.S. Embassy in Russia and the arrest of a number of properties. At the moment, four Russian Consulate in the United States, and the United States to Russia — three.
On the decision could be announced by September 1.
Question about the working conditions of diplomatic missions of Russia and the USA were discussed at the recent Manila meeting of Russian foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Secretary of state Rex Tillerson. Following the talks, the head of the American foreign policy Department told reporters that Washington is considering a response, Moscow imposed its sanctions and give him until September 1.
We will remind, on July 28, the Russian authorities demanded the United States to reduce the number of employees of American diplomatic missions on the territory of Russia up to 455 people. So many people working in the diplomatic missions of the Russian Federation in the United States, while the staff of American companies in Russia consists of about 1200 people. In addition, from 1 August suspended the use of the U.S. Embassy two objects of real estate in Moscow — dacha in Serebryany Bor and warehouse on Road street.
The government explained that these restrictions — delayed response to sanctions against Moscow imposed by President Barack Obama before his departure from the White house. We will remind, on December 29 last year from the USA was sent to 35 of Russian diplomats and their family members. In addition, was denied access to the country dachas of Russia’s permanent mission in new York and Embassy in Washington. The Russian foreign Ministry said then that the White house is in violation of international law went on the actual expropriation of Russian state property. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin has decided to refrain from reflex action — as noted by the experts, with the expectation that after the inauguration of Donald trump Washington politics will change dramatically. Since then, however, serious progress has not happened. Moreover, it became clear that the White house will sign the Congress prepared a bill to toughen sanctions against Russia (he, in particular, forbids to return Russia to its diplomatic property), and Moscow announced about a response.
Deputy foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov warned Washington against attempts to use the situation “to further discharge the unwinding spiral of measures and countermeasures”.
Moscow imposed restrictive measures he called “a response to the illegal, unlawful actions of the United States,” adding that this includes “response to the anti-Russian Orgy in the American Congress.”
U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Tefft, in turn, said it “deeply regrets” in connection with the adopted by the Moscow measures. The Kommersant’s sources close to the US state Department, said: from the perspective of Washington, Moscow’s actions did not qualify as mirrored steps, and as unfounded escalation of the conflict. In December, introducing sanctions against Russia, the White house called their response to the harassment of U.S. Embassy staff in Moscow and the intervention of Russian special services in the American elections. Based on this logic, Washington believed that Moscow had no reason to “answer” on their part. Russian authorities believe the December sanctions are unjustified.