'Give us back this right': Russians demand to renew the issuance of American visas in Moscow
Russian citizens call on the Russian Federation and the United States to find a compromise in the current situation and resume issuing visas at the US Embassy in Moscow. They created a petition on the portal Change.org and collect signatures.
“We know that mutual sanctions from both states led to this result, but the policy must be for the benefit of citizens and for the benefit of their country. Moreover, it should progress and develop, and not copy remnants of the past and cause unpleasant associations in people’s memory, the text says. “We understand perfectly well that “world peace” is a utopia. In the political arena there will always be rivalry, conflicts, showdowns and struggles for leadership, but why should ordinary citizens suffer from the next “chess game”? Sanctions should only apply to those who are responsible for politics and any global changes in the world.”
The petition also provides examples of statistics. Before the pandemic COVID-19 on the territory of Russia, about 200 residents of the Russian Federation applied for American visas per year. Visas were requested for various purposes: medical treatment, education, participation in sports competitions, family reunification, cultural exchange, seasonal work, scientific conferences, business travel and, of course, tourism. According to statistics, in 000 alone, 2019 Russians visited the United States.
On the subject: You can no longer get an American visa in Russia: how to do it in another country
“We will separately highlight those applicants who have received and want to continue to receive US visas for visitor purposes. Basically, this category of applicants are adults or elderly people who travel to the States to visit their children and grandchildren, who live in this country on study or work visas/have a green card/are US citizens. The impossibility of obtaining a visa puts an end to trips to family, the petition notes. “The visa crisis needs to be discussed by the leaders of the Russian Federation and the United States at the highest level.”
The Russians also noted that the United States is famous for the development of medicine, and the termination of the issuance of visas has deprived many people of the opportunity for proper and modern treatment, which they cannot get anywhere else.
“Article 27 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation states: everyone can freely travel outside the Russian Federation. Please give us back this opportunity,” the authors of the petition note.
You may be interested in: top New York news, stories of our immigrants and helpful tips about life in the Big Apple - read it all on ForumDaily New York
As of noon on May 7, the petition was signed by 2 out of 825 needed. The collection of votes is held under the slogan “Stop the visa war. The friendship of peoples is the guarantee of an inviolable peace. "
As ForumDaily wrote earlier:
- 23 April Putin signed a decree according to which the embassies of states "committing unfriendly actions" against Russia will be limited in the right to hire Russian citizens.
- The decree was issued against the backdrop of deteriorating relations between Russia and the United States and a number of European countries, as well as a diplomatic conflict with the Czech Republic. whose authorities suspected Russia of involvement in the explosions of ammunition depots in 2014 and announced the expulsion of Russian diplomats. In response, Moscow also expelled employees of the Czech embassy.
- In April, the President of the United States Joe Biden imposed new sanctions against Russia stating that it is a response to cyberattacks and attempts to interfere in the 2020 presidential election.
- Thereafter Washington and Moscow exchanged expelled diplomats.
- In addition, the Russian Foreign Ministry recommended that US Ambassador John Sullivan leave for Washington "for consultations." Sullivan initially refused to leave Russia, but on April 22 it became known that he flew to the USA.
- Earlier Russia closed the US Consulate in Vladivostok, and the diplomatic mission in Yekaterinburg stopped serving US citizens and stopped issuing visas. This means that except at the Moscow Embassy, Russian citizens have nowhere else to obtain a visa to enter the United States, and United States citizens have nowhere else to turn for help.
- And on April 30 it became known that USA stopped issuing visas in Moscow, after which Russians have nowhere else to get visas.
Read also on ForumDaily:
Why people are returning home: four unsuccessful emigration stories
Fresh scandal with borsch: Google called the dish Russian, but quickly corrected
How often citizens of post-Soviet countries are denied American visas
Subscribe to ForumDaily on Google NewsDo you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.