The number of employees of the Russian Consulate General in New York decreased threefold

The diplomatic staff of the Russian Consulate General in New York has been reduced by almost three times. This was stated by the Deputy Consul General of Russia in New York Vyacheslav Slavkin. According to him, the reason for the reduction was the US visa policy. The details were told by the publication TASS.

The Deputy Consul General notes that the consulate has begun preparations in advance for the voting of the Russian diaspora in New York in the elections to the State Duma. The expression of the will of the Russians is scheduled for September 19.

“We began to prepare for the elections in advance, because we know that we are expected to have a large influx of citizens, and, unfortunately, the number of our employees is very limited. Our consulate general has been reduced in terms of the number of diplomats due to the fact that the Americans do not issue visas, in fact, three times, ”he explained.

Slavkin added that, despite this, preparations for the vote are proceeding normally.

“We do not see any problems. In accordance with the established procedure, we informed the authorities of the host country about the elections, so that the competent US authorities provide an appropriate security regime. We were promised maximum assistance in these matters, so we are waiting for the voter fully armed, ”he commented.

Limiting the duration of business trips for diplomatic representatives

Earlier, Russian Ambassador to Washington Anatoly Antonov in an interview with the magazine The National Interest reported that Washington ordered 24 Russian diplomats to leave the United States by September 3. The reason, according to him, was "the unilateral limitation by the American side of the terms of business trips of Russian diplomats for three years" and the refusal to extend them. The ambassador said that the American authorities are canceling the valid visas of the wives and children of diplomatic missions without giving any reason.

State Department spokesman Ned Price responded by saying that the United States does not want an escalation with Russia regarding the work of the diplomats of the two countries. According to him, the restrictions on the duration of business trips of diplomats to the United States are aimed at "balancing the work of missions."

In response, Antonov said that the Russian side has recently issued 22 visas to employees of the US Embassy to work in Moscow. And Washington extended the documents to only one Russian diplomat.