"We do not see any progress in Washington's policy": Antonov assessed the position of the State Department on the situation with the diplomatic missions of the Russian Federation and the United States

The American side is misleading the media about the situation around the work of the diplomatic missions of Russia and the United States.

This was stated by the Russian Ambassador to Washington Anatoly Antonov, commenting on the recent statements of the State Department spokesman Ned Price.

“If you listen to Mr. Price, you might get the impression that difficulties in the work of diplomatic missions arose through the fault of Russia and only yesterday.

We regret that a colleague was not ready for such a serious conversation with journalists and misled them about the true state of affairs, ”Antonov said.

He noted that it was Washington that for many years consistently pursued a policy of deliberately worsening the life and working conditions of Russian diplomats in the United States.

In particular, the ambassador recalled the seizure of diplomatic property and the expulsion of employees with a 72-hour fee limit.

“Until the last moment we refrained from being drawn into the vicious circle of 'exchange of blows'.

Repeatedly suggested to colleagues to "nullify" on a reciprocal basis the existing restrictions on the activities of each other's foreign missions.

These calls were not heard.

Moreover, the working conditions of our employees continue to get tougher, ”he explained.

According to the diplomat, no one forbids Washington to fill the established quota of 455 employees for the American diplomatic mission in Russia - Moscow is waiting for visa requests for the Americans who will replace the "local staff."

The Russian ambassador also said that the attempts of the Americans to blame the Russian Federation for everything, and to appear in "white tailcoats" themselves, are puzzling.

“We act strictly in accordance with the rules of the host country.

We send documents to the State Department in advance, strictly on time.

However, the reaction is zero, ”Antonov emphasized.

Thus, more than 140 people, including family members of employees of diplomatic missions, are awaiting a decision on visa issues from Washington, some of them for more than a year.

More than 30 new workers cannot enter the United States because they are not issued visas: "Moreover, the practice of canceling valid entry permits."

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At the same time, the Russian side only in recent days issued 22 visas to Americans heading to work at the embassy in Moscow, and in response, the United States only extended the visa for the envoy counselor.

“As a mockery, we received an extension of the visa for the Minister Counselor.

The partners present this as a major concession, with which we disagree.

Counselors-ambassadors, like a number of other leading employees, should be excluded from the exchange system in accordance with the previously reached "gentlemen's agreement," Antonov noted.

According to him, Moscow expects from the US State Department a constructive approach to solving the problems of Russian diplomatic missions: "Attempts to sell us 'empty air' will not work."

Russia stands for an equal, mutually respectful dialogue, taking into account mutual interests and is ready to leave the diplomatic conflict of 2016 in the past, although it will continue to seek the return of the seized property.

At the same time, Moscow proposes to use the tactics of "small steps" in the issue of zeroing previously introduced measures, if Washington is not ready for mutual zeroing of all measures and countermeasures, Antonov said.

“Contrary to the understandings reached at the Geneva summit, we see no progress in the tough US policy.

It’s time to move from words to deeds, and not to emphasize our own problems, forgetting about Russian concerns, ”the ambassador stated.

Also on russian.rt.com "The forerunner of this is the unfriendly actions of Washington": Russia commented on the decision of the US Embassy on visas

On Sunday, August 1, the National Interest magazine published an interview with Anatoly Antonov, in which he said that Washington in December 2020 handed Moscow a list of 24 Russian diplomats who will have to leave the United States before September 3, 2021 due to a unilateral restriction the American side of the terms of business trips of diplomats from the Russian Federation for three years.

According to the ambassador, such a time limit "does not apply to any other country."

In response, the head of the State Department press service, Ned Price, said that the characteristics given by Antonov on this situation were inaccurate.

“The three-year visa expiry date for Russians is nothing new.

As you can probably guess, when visas are about to expire, people are expected to leave the country or apply for an extension.

That's what this is about, ”he said.

He stated that the anti-Russian sanctions imposed on March 2 and April 15 by the United States were not aimed at escalating relations, but were only intended to "bring Russia to justice" for threats to American interests and citizens.

In addition, Price pointed out that limiting the duration of travel for diplomatic and consular staff helps Washington balance the length of diplomats on a bilateral basis.

At the same time, for most countries, the work limit is five years with the possibility of extension on individual requests, and not three years, as is the case with Russia.

Why there is a three-year limit for the Russian side, the representative of the State Department did not comment.

As vice-speaker of the Federation Council Konstantin Kosachev noted, Washington is solely responsible for what is happening on visa issues with Russian diplomats.

“Having put forward in no way justified accusations against Russia of interfering in the internal affairs of the United States, as a measure of retaliation, the Americans struck a series of attacks on Russian diplomatic missions - seizure of property, mass expulsions, denial of visas for new employees, which continues to this day more and more. sophisticated forms, "TASS quotes him.

According to the senator, all actions of Moscow were reciprocal, they can be canceled in case of termination of "illegal anti-diplomatic actions of Washington."

“It remains to be regretted that at the same time damage is being done to other areas of potential bilateral cooperation, the advancement in which cannot but be hampered by the poisoned atmosphere in the field of diplomatic missions,” explained Kosachev.

Recall that on April 15, the US authorities announced the expulsion of ten members of the Russian diplomatic mission in Washington.

In addition, the Joe Biden administration imposed sanctions on 32 Russian individuals and entities, as well as six technology companies for alleged attempts to influence the US presidential election in 2020 and "other disinformation actions."

In response, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced a number of mirror measures.

In addition, on behalf of Vladimir Putin, a list of countries unfriendly to Russia was formed, which included the United States and the Czech Republic.

In this regard, American diplomatic missions were prohibited from hiring administrative and technical workers from among the citizens of the Russian Federation.

Against this background, the US Embassy in the Russian Federation announced that "due to the actions of the Russian authorities" from May 12, it will issue a limited number of immigration visas and provide consular services to American citizens in an emergency due to a 75% reduction in the staff of the consular department.

On July 30, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken announced that the US would fire 182 local employees at its diplomatic facilities in Moscow, Vladivostok and Yekaterinburg.

Even then, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation paid attention to the fact that nothing prevents Washington from completing the staff of its embassy, ​​since the quota for the United States is 455 employees, and only 280 American diplomatic employees are accredited.

“It would be easier to say: we do not know how and do not want to work,” stated Russian diplomats. “It should also be recalled that before that visa services were carried out with months of delays, and the waiting time for an“ interview ”with the American consul was up to a year."