The Russian Ambassador to the United States stated that 27 Russian diplomats and their families had been deported from the United States on 30 January, and that they had to leave the country.
Russian Ambassador Anatoly Antonov, in an interview with the Soloviev Youtube channel, said, “A large group of 27 people will leave us on January 30 with their families. We are experiencing a serious staff shortage,” he said.
Russia previously reported that more than 100 of its diplomats were forced to leave the United States with their families as of 2016.
According to the Spokesperson of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova, the number of Russian diplomats who have been on duty in the United States since 29 October is 200, including those involved in Russia’s UN mission.
President Joe Biden’s administration said last month that the number of US mission personnel to Russia had fallen to 120 after a series of expulsions and restrictions in early 2017, and that the mission’s activities were limited under these conditions.
The US Embassy in Moscow stopped issuing non-diplomatic visas this year, paving the way for Russians to apply for visas from third countries.
This means that, apart from diplomats or Green Card applicants that allow permanent residence and work in the USA, Russians cannot apply for a visa in their own country to visit the USA for tourism or other purposes, and they have to make these applications in a third country if needed. means.
Russia-US relations are strained due to Russia’s military activities on the Ukrainian border, allegations of meddling in the US elections, hacking actions by Russian-based groups in the cyber space, and a host of other issues.