Department of state: the reduction of the us diplomatic mission “hits the citizens of Russia”
WASHINGTON, 24 Aug — RIA Novosti. Washington will respond to Moscow’s decision to reduce staff of the diplomatic missions of the USA in the Russian Federation before September 1, confirmed by state Department spokesman Heather Nauert.
“We said that we will respond (on the decision of the authorities of the Russian Federation — ed.) by 1 September,” — said Nauert at a briefing, answering the question of exactly when to expect an answer.
The spokesman also noted that the decision on the drawdown would affect the citizens who worked in the American Embassy.
“It (the decision on the reduction — ed.) also hit the citizens of the Russian Federation. We have a lot of Russian citizens who work with local staff. Now they will be without work. President (Vladimir) Putin says he is concerned about the economy in Russia. It’s a funny way of showing it: worry about the economy, depriving its people of work”, — said Nauert.
She added that “the Russian government knew what the effect would be to have this decision.” According to Nauert portion of Americans who work in diplomatic missions in the Russian Federation, “going home.”
Earlier, Moscow has ordered to reduce the U.S. diplomatic mission in Russia to 755 to 455 employees. Thus, Moscow has equated the number of employees of the U.S. Embassy in Russia, the number of employed in the Russian diplomatic mission in the United States. According to the statement of the foreign Ministry, these measures were a response to anti-Russian policy adopted by the us Congress of the new anti-Russian sanctions.