US closes the consulate of Russia in San Francisco

Фото: Depositphotos

US authorities demanded the closure of the Russian consulate in San Francisco, writes CNN with reference to the US Department of State. In addition, until 2 September, one diplomatic site will be closed in Washington and New York. Interfax writes that we are talking about buildings where trade missions are located.

At this step, Washington went the day before the 755 of American diplomats must leave Russia.

“The United States has fully complied with the Russian government’s decision to reduce the number of diplomats in Russia,” State Department spokeswoman Heather said. “We believe that this action was unjustified and is damaging to relations between our countries.”

“In the spirit of the parity that the Russians claim,” she continued, “we demand that the Russian government close its Consulate General in San Francisco, the Office Building in Washington, D.C., and the Consulate Building in New York.”

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, in a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, expressed regret at the escalation of tensions in bilateral relations. This is stated in a message posted on Online Russian Foreign Ministry.

Sergei Lavrov said that Moscow will carefully examine the new measures announced by the Americans, after which the reaction to the incident will be reported.

In turn, at the Russian Consulate General in San Francisco, the decision to close was considered an “unfriendly step” by the American authorities and said that it “would hurt Russian citizens living in this consular district, as well as as a significant part of Russians has American citizenship. "

“The time frame that the American authorities gave for closing the Consulate General is also puzzling – two days. From September 1, the Consulate General of Russia in San Francisco will stop accepting visitors on all consular matters,” the department said in a statement on Facebook.

According to Meduza, now both countries have three consulates (Russia will have consulates in New York, Houston and Seattle). Until September 2, one diplomatic building will also be closed in Washington and New York.

It is noted that this is a response to the "unreasonable and harmful" demands of Russia, which the United States has fulfilled. Washington is ready for "further measures", but calls for abandoning subsequent retaliatory actions, added to the State Department.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, before announcing the closure of the consulate, held a conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and warned him. Lavrov "expressed regret" and promised to respond later.

The tacit confrontation between Russia and the United States began in December last year, when the administration of US President Barack Obama imposed sanctions against 9 Russian institutions, companies and individuals, including against the GRU and the FSB, for “interfering in elections and putting pressure on American diplomats” working in Russia.

Also USA closed access to two residential complexes - the so-called suburban "dachas" of the Russian Permanent Representation in New York and the embassies in Washington, which are Russian diplomatic property. In addition, persona non grata are announced 35 Russian diplomats. They were expelled from the country on the eve of New Year's Eve.

Given the change of power in the United States, Russia was in no hurry to respond. However, in early August of this year, Moscow decided to cut The number of American diplomats accredited in Russia for 755 people is from about 1,2 thousands of people currently working in Russia.

In addition, Russia has not forgotten about diplomatic dachas and reported that “the Russian side suspends since 1 in August, the US Embassy in Russia will use all storage facilities on Dorozhnaya Street in Moscow and summer cottages in Serebryanny Bor. ”

In response to such measures 23 August Washington decided to pause issuing non-immigrant visas throughout Russia. The issuance of documents will be resumed from September 1, but in a reduced volume and only in Moscow. Therefore, the embassy staff recommended that Russians apply for permission to enter the United States at consulates in other states.

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