The US Embassy in Russia since August 23, suspends the issuance of nonimmigrant visas, according to the website of the American embassy. From September 1, interviews for obtaining this type of visa will be held only in Moscow, the deadline for resuming the procedure in other consulates in Russia is not specified. The previously assigned interviews will be canceled.

The reason why the US embassy took this step is the limitation of the number of employees of the diplomatic missions, which Moscow demanded. "The decision of the Russian side to reduce the number of employees of the US diplomatic mission in the Russian Federation calls into question the seriousness of Russia's desire to improve bilateral relations. We will keep the number of the diplomatic mission staff at the level necessary to fulfill the key functions of our diplomatic missions, "the embassy said in a statement..

New rules for obtaining US non-immigrant visas for Russian citizens will be maintained until the number of employees of the diplomatic mission becomes the same.

On July 28, the Russian Foreign Ministry, in the framework of counter-demonstrations, demanded, by September 1, to reduce to 455 the number of diplomatic and technical personnel of the US Embassy in Moscow, as well as in consulates in the regions, and deprived the American Embassy of the right to use the dacha in Serebryany Bor and Moscow warehouses. Russia will have to leave 755 employees of US diplomatic agencies.

DW.