US explains decision to temporarily suspend visa issuance for Russians

According to US Ambassador to Russia John Tefft, the temporary suspension of US visas for citizens of the Russian Federation is not in retaliation for the Russian Foreign Ministry's decision to reduce the number of US Embassy staff, but is a result of that decision.

US Ambassador to Russia John Tefft.

The US Embassy posted on its official YouTube account a video of Mr. Tefft responding to the Russian's question.

“I find it bitter that some Russian commentators see what is happening as an attempt on our part to punish the Russians in response to our request to reduce the number of our staff. That is not true,” Mr. Tefft explained.

“It’s not revenge! But our staff has been reduced to the point where we have had to redeploy our resources to address some issues. Visa is just one of them,” Tefft said in the video.

He argued that "the suspension of visa issuance is the result of the Russian government's decision to limit the number of our employees, not a retaliatory response to that."

He also admitted that the US "had expected the Russian side not to go to this."

Previously, Moscow ordered a reduction of 755 US diplomatic staff in Russia, down to 455 people. Thus, Moscow has reduced the number of staff at the US Embassy in Russia to match the number of staff in the Russian diplomatic mission in this country.

According to the State Department's statement, these measures are a response to anti-Russian policy and new anti-Russian sanctions passed by the US Congress.

In response, the United States suspended the issuance of non-immigrant visas to Russians on August 23. From September 1, the procedure will resume, but only at the US Embassy in Moscow.

Washington explained the change as a result of reduced staffing. Previously, US visas were also issued at consulates in St Petersburg, Yekaterinburg and Vladivostok.

According to Sputnik