Russia: new measure bans US embassy from employing Russian staff
As of August 1, American embassies and consulates in Russia will no longer be able to employ local staff.
AFP - YURI KADOBNOV
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
As of August 1, American embassies and consulates in Russia will no longer be able to employ local staff.
A measure imposed by Moscow after the new sanctions decreed by the Biden administration last May and which will strongly impact the services offered by the American representations.
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With our correspondent in Moscow
,
Jean-Didier Revoin
Since July 19 and until further notice, the American consular services have been idling.
They no longer issue visas or passports, or even birth certificates for newborns whose parents are American.
With the only exceptions, a passport will be renewed only if its holder needs it to remain in compliance with Russian law and in the event of a demonstrated life-threatening emergency to travel to the United States.
This situation is dictated by a toughening of Russian rules.
From August 1, Moscow banned US missions from employing Russian or third-country nationals.
In fact, this results in the dismissal of 182 employees and dozens of temporary workers working with the American embassy and consulates in Russia.
The move was enacted by Moscow last May, after the Biden administration blamed Russia for
further cyberattacks
and banned US banks from buying Russian debt.
So, even if Moscow and Washington are showing their common desire to restore their relationship, this situation illustrates the deep degradation of ties between Russia and the United States.
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