US to suspend nonimmigrant visa operations in Russia

By Diyar Guldogan

ANKARA

The U.S. will suspend all nonimmigrant visa operations across Russia on Wednesday, its embassy in Moscow said on Monday.

The move comes after Russia retaliated last month against U.S. Congressional approval of fresh American sanctions, ordering Washington to cut its diplomatic presence in Russia by 755 people.

The U.S. embassy said nonimmigrant operations would resume at its Moscow office on Sep. 1 but remain suspended at its consulates in Yekaterinburg and Vladisvostok indefinitely.

U.S. nonimmigrant visas cover several categories of travelers, including businesspeople, students, medical travelers and journalists.

"Russia’s decision to reduce the United States’ diplomatic presence here calls into question Russia’s seriousness about pursuing better relations."

"We will maintain sufficient staff to carry out essential elements of our mission," the embassy added.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday that Moscow will examine the embassy's statement "in detail", the official TASS news agency reported.

"As for our response...As I said, it is necessary to study in detail those decisions that were announced today by the Americans. Let's see," Lavrov told a joint news conference with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry in Moscow.

Lavrov said Moscow will not "rip off" American citizens, adding: "If someone hoped that in this case a bad example would be contagious, he miscalculated."