US ‘visas’ pause in Russia:

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Washington will halt the issuing of all non-immigrant visas in Russia for nine days from Wednesday and will thereafter reduce visa operations, the US embassy in Moscow said Monday, citing the “Russian government-imposed cap” on its staff levels.

“All non-immigrant visa operations across Russia will be suspended on Aug 23. Operations will resume in Moscow on Sept 1; visa operations at the US consulates will remain suspended indefinitely,” an embassy statement said.

It said all scheduled appointments for visa applicants would be cancelled.

Russia last month slashed the US diplomatic staff in the country by 755 employees to 455 — the same number Moscow has in the United States — in a retaliatory move against new sanctions passed by the US congress.

“Russia’s decision to reduce the United States’ diplomatic presence here calls into question Russia’s seriousness about pursuing better relations,” the embassy statement said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov argued that “the real reason” for curbing visa operations is not lack of staff however but “an attempt to provoke discontent among Russian citizens over the actions of the Russian government.”

Asked at a news conference about Moscow’s potential reaction to the move, Lavrov added that Russia “will not be taking out our anger on American citizens.” (AFP)