- Nineteen prisoners use cutlery to break out of cells at Winchester prison
- France wants progress in Ukraine before Russia returns to G7
- Italy president begins talks to seek way out of government crisis
- Italian PM expected to resign as political chaos deepens
- Russia says US cruise missile test ‘regrettable’
- Kremlin - No date set for Normandy talks on Ukraine despite Macron meeting
- Egypt court hands out 6 death sentences on terror charges
- Putin says Russian nuclear explosion poses no threat
- Russian panel eyes alleged foreign interference in protests
- Gran Canaria wildfire triggers evacuation of thousands of people
- PM Johnson calls on Germany and France to compromise on Brexit
- Sudan's ex-president Bashir arrives at corruption trial
Friday, 31 December 2021 (YJC)_ Criticizing the continued visa ban on Russian diplomats in the United States, the Russian foreign minister said Washington was trying to use the lack of staff in its diplomatic offices to gain concessions.
Amid Moscow-Washington tensions over security issues and the situation in Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov criticized US restrictions on visas for Russian diplomats.
Lavrov said in an interview with RIA Novosti today (Friday) that the United States is restricting the issuance of nonimmigrant visas to Russians for no reason so that it can bargain for its unilateral concessions.
He explained:
The US is now artificially restricting the issuance of nonimmigrant visas to the Russian Federation, citing staff shortages. We are confident that Washington is doing this for reasons to gain unilateral concessions from Russia.
According to the report, the Russian Foreign Minister clarified in a general statement about the situation of non-issuance of visas by the United States to Russians:
Unfortunately, the situation is still difficult. As of May 12, 2021, the United States has suspended the issuance of non-diplomatic visas. However, they reserve the right to review emergency requests. This is an independent decision of the United States.
According to RIA Novosti, Lavrov said that the Russian side is constantly raising the issue of the need to normalize the visa process.
However, given the deteriorating situation in bilateral relations, it is unlikely that Washington will change its current visa policy.
"Nothing can stop the Russian embassy in the United States from stabilizing," he said.
We will not allow anything to interfere with the completion of the agreed quota (455 employees at the Russian Embassy) and the consolidation of consular services.
Your Comment