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© Yuri Smityuk/TASS
The deadline for issuance of U.S. visas to citizens of Russia in recent months has increased significantly, and its increase is not related to the decision of Russia to reduce the number dipslay the United States, and is only caused by the desire of Washington to exert pressure on Moscow, said the official representative of Russian foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova, the TV channel “Russia 1”.
“So what do not that the last six months, and for several years, American diplomats?
The funny thing is that for the last 4-5 months period of issuing visas has increased several times. If before the interview the Americans was administered approximately 10 days after submitting all the documents, but now the interview is assigned to almost one and a half months,” she said.
Zakharov believes that all applications for extension of deadline for issuance of U.S. visas because of the decision of the Russian Federation to reduce the number dipslay must be regarded as “political games.” “We understand what it is intimidation, it is the pressure on the Russian side, is this another dirty trick, which will be made by the Russians to try to beat this situation, saying that to blame the Russian side again”, she said.
According to the representative of the foreign Ministry, the American side hints that the lives of citizens of the Russian Federation will worsen due to countermeasures against the United States, “will shot yourself in the foot”. “All this will not pass,” – concluded Zakharov.
Earlier the Russian foreign Ministry suggested Washington until September 1, the number of diplomatic and technical staff working at the American Embassy in Moscow, consulates General in St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg and Vladivostok, in strict compliance with a number of Russian diplomats and technical staff who are in the United States. This means that the total number of staff employed in the American diplomatic and consular offices in Russia, is reduced to 455.
President Vladimir Putin on Sunday in an interview with leading VGTRK Vladimir Putin said that Russia should leave the 755 employees of the us Embassy. Also from 1 August, Russia has suspended the use of the Embassy of the United States of all storage areas on a Traffic street in Moscow and cottages in the Serebryany Bor.