FM: Russian diplomatic missions in U.S. to operate as normal

By Azernews

By Ali Mustafayev

Moscow announced that its diplomatic missions in the United States will continue working as normal and accomplishing their functions, despite Washington’s recent decision to suspend visa processing for the Russian applicants.

"Russian diplomatic missions in the US will continue working as normal and fulfilling all their functions," Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on August 14, Tass reports.

"We will never take it out on American citizens, create any intolerable conditions for them for getting Russian visas and revenge this way," the diplomat stressed. "We call for interaction and cooperation."

The U.S. Embassy in Russia announced on August 21 plans to suspend the procedure of issuing nonimmigrant visas for Russians on August 23. The procedure will be resumed on September 1, but only in Moscow. Visas won’t be issued in the consulates general in St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg and Vladivostok.

Zakharova added that Russia takes into account that bilateral cooperation meets the interests of people "who live on the other sides of the ocean." "It’s not our method to create difficulties for them on purpose," she stressed.

Moscow expresses "bewilderment and regret" over the US decision on suspending non-immigrant visa issuances for Russians, she said.

"As we understand, the main reason behind this move was not technical difficulties, which the well-equipped US consular service has faced. Apparently, political motives are behind this," she said.

The latest move was assessed as a new blow against the already dismal diplomatic relations between the two sides, with each new step moving Moscow and Washington further from the rapprochement anticipated a few months ago.

The relations worsened after American intelligence accused Russia of intervening in the presidentiall elections in 2016.

In July, the United States Senate approved a measure to expand economic sanctions against Russia, as well as against Iran and North Korea. Later President Trump approved the bill.

The Russian government as a response seized two American diplomatic properties in Russia and ordered the United States Embassy to reduce staff by September.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly rejected any allegations that his campaign staff cooperated with Russia for victory in the elections.

The allegations by the U.S. intelligence community that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election are currently being investigated by Congress and a special investigator.