Shortened stamps of America
As a reduction of the staff of the Embassy of the United States will affect the issuance of visas to Russian citizens.
Russian authorities introduced sanctions against the United States can lead to two negative consequences for the citizens of the Russian Federation. First, the U.S. Embassy in Moscow admit that the Russians can have difficulties with obtaining us visas. About this “Kommersant” said the press service of the diplomatic mission. Earlier, the former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul has warned that due to the forced reduction of staff to wait for US visas to citizens of Russia will have “weeks, if not months”.
In addition, in an interview with “Kommersant” he suggested that, faced with the need to reduce the 755 employees of their institutions in Russia, the United States will prefer to fire a large number of Russians working at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow and Consulate General in the Russian regions. However, the Russian authorities believe that the US Embassy remains enough employees to complete the work.
On possible difficulties with obtaining us visas Russians first drew the attention of former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul. “If these reductions (of the staff of diplomatic missions of the USA in Russia.— “B”) is real, the Russians have to be ready to wait for visas to enter the United States for weeks, if not months”, — he wrote in his Twitter. Recall, according to the decision of the Russian authorities the number of staff of the us diplomatic mission in the Russian Federation by September 1 shall be reduced to 455 people, in addition, from 1 August the Americans will not be able to use the Embassy dacha in Serebryany Bor and garage complex on street Road.
So Moscow responded to the expulsion in December last year, 35 Russian diplomats from the United States and the arrest of two ambassadorial villas. Then Russian President Vladimir Putin refrained from reflex action — as noted by the experts, with the expectation that after coming to power of President Donald trump Washington politics will change.
However, the new administration did not reverse the previous decision and, moreover, has made it clear that they would support the intention of Congress to enter against Russia new sanctions.
To reduce the number of employees to 455 Russian authorities have demanded, because that’s how many people work at the Russian Embassy in Washington and Consulate General of the Russian Federation on the territory of the United States. American institutions in Russia currently employs about 1,200 people. According to Vladimir Putin, will stop its activity in Russia “755 diplomats and technicians”. “This is sensitive”, — he said.
However, according to Michael McFaul, the consequences of “anti-American sanctions” will be sensitive for the Russians. “I don’t think it will be about the closure of the Consulate General of the USA in Russia, but this section (consular.— “B”) is the largest, so it’ll have most of the reductions — he said “Kommersant”.— Russians should prepare for a significant increase in terms of registration of visas”. Now for a visa please contact the U.S. Embassy in Moscow and in Consulate General in St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg and Vladivostok. On the website of the American Embassy in Moscow has advised to apply for a visa “not less than three months before the intended date of travel”. In a press-service of the U.S. Embassy in Russia “Kommersant” said that “it’s too early to even try to speculate how the restrictions will affect the work of the consular service.” “But it is possible that this will reduce the efficiency of the consular activity,” made in the Department.
The United States are required to establish the necessary work of the Embassy. For any country 455 people, at any load, — a number sufficient to organize the work of bezuprechnost Coachella Committee of the Federation Council
Meanwhile, another negative consequence of the new anti-American sanctions could be the loss of jobs by several hundreds of citizens of the Russian Federation. Of the 1,200 employees of the diplomatic missions of the USA in Russia the majority is hired on the spot staff. Free numbers for the current year no, but from the report of the state Department for 2013 should be that only about 25% of the employees of the Embassy and consulates were Americans, and the rest — citizens of the Russian Federation. This, for example, secretaries, translators, cooks, guards. “My prediction is that reduction will concern first of all the Russians” — said Michael McFaul.
Press Secretary of the President Dmitry Peskov said that the United States should decide for themselves who of the diplomats and employees of diplomatic missions will work, and who will cease the activity. “It is the choice of the United States. We are talking about the diplomats and of persons with non-diplomatic status, and on measures taken by the Russian citizens”, — he said.
On the website of the U.S. Embassy are still two vacancies: driver (s/n of about 43 thousand rubles. plus food allowance and annual bonus) and electrical (s/n about 49 thousand rubles. plus allowance and premium).
“Cross-expulsion of diplomats is not a new phenomenon. The Embassy of the war was throughout the cold war period,” reminded “Kommersant” journalist-americanist Mikhail Taratuta. According to him, during the confrontation between the USSR and the USA “mirror” came to detail. “When in 1988 I came to USA (as a correspondent of “Time”.— “B”), I was given permission to rent an apartment for the Bureau, while the correspondent of one of the American media were not allowed to rent housing in St. Petersburg. And visa did not give me, while we did not gave the green light to enter the correspondent of the United States,” he said.
Peak ambassadorial wars occurred in 1986, when the USSR was first sent 30 American diplomats, and then from USA — 80 Soviet. After that, the Soviet government forbade its citizens to work for the American Embassy. Then lost work of 260 people. In the absence of the driver, U.S. Ambassador Arthur Hartman was forced himself to sit behind the wheel, and his wife Donna helped set up the tables at receptions. The restrictions were lifted only after several years.
Mikhail Taratuta says that now Moscow and Washington “are doomed to a long confrontation.” “I think that adopted by the U.S. Congress of a law (providing for the imposition of new sanctions against Russia and limiting U.S. President for their review.— “B”) buried the hopes of the Kremlin to improve relations with the White house,” — said the expert. According to the interlocutor of “Kommersant”, Donald trump, “probably wanted to improve relations with Russia, but was mistaken in the main thing.” “One of his main slogans was “to drain the Washington swamp”, that is, to overcome “the establishment”, — recalls Mikhail Taratuta.— But the “swamp” was stronger than him.”
Elena Chernenko