The US government has responded to Russia’s decision to cut the American diplomatic personnel down to 755.
Non-immigration visas will not be issued from 23 August to 1 September. Thereafter, the service will recommence, albeit on a radically lowered scale. The US consulates in Saint-Petersburg, Yekaterinburg and Vladivostok will cease to issue visas, with Moscow remaining as the only venue.
The Russian Tourist Industry Union expects the processing term to increase to up to 6 months. Also, US-bound flights from the Far East is expected to loose passengers who will be unwilling to travel to Moscow for visas.
Sergey Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, said at ap ress conference that Russia intends to study the US’s measures, but will ‘not repay the American citizens in kind’. He emphasized that the decision lies in line with the Obama administration`s policies meant to organize the colored revolutions in other countries.