US Embassy In Russia Halts Issuance Of Non-Immigrant Visas, Moscow Vows "Retaliation In Kind"

[Swordsmyth]

The latest escalation in the deteriorating diplomatic relations between the US and Russia was unveiled this morning, when the US embassy in Russia announced it was scaling back its visa services in Russia after Moscow ordered it to sharply cut its diplomatic staff in retaliation over new U.S. sanctions, and would suspend all non-immigrant visa operations in Russia starting August 23, although visa operations will be resumed on September 1, but only in the main embassy building in Moscow.

Shortly after the announcement, A Russian senator quoted by RIA news agency said that Russia will respond in kind to U.S. visa changes: "New U.S. visa rules for Russians are a demarche", RIA Novosti reported, citing member of Federation Council Andrey Klimov.
Separately, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the US decision to scale back visa services in Russia was an attempt to stir up ill-feeling among ordinary Russians against the authorities. Lavrov, speaking at a joint news conference in Moscow with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, said that "the American authors of these decisions have come up with another attempt to stir up discontent among Russian citizens about the actions of the Russian authorities. It's a well known logic ... and this it the logic of those who organize color revolutions," Lavrov told reporters.
Lavrov, who said the decision suggested Washington didn't think its reduced diplomatic staff could adapt to new circumstances, said Russia would carefully study the U.S. decision and promised that Moscow would not take out its anger on ordinary U.S. citizens.

More at: http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-0...taliation-kind


ENOUGH ALREADY, WE MUST STOP THIS MADNESS.

[Zippyjuan]

US decision to scale back visa services in Russia was an attempt to stir up ill-feeling among ordinary Russians against the authorities.

Do "ordinary Russians" spend tons of time waiting in lines to get US visas? Do they blame their own government for that time the US makes them wait? Or is it just propaganda?

The U.S. said it was forced to make the move after Putin ordered American diplomatic staff to be cut by 755 last month. This was itself a tit-for-tat response to U.S. sanctions brought against Russia for its alleged cyberhacking and military involvements in Ukraine and Syria.

"Because of the required drawdown of personnel, all nonimmigrant visa interviews countrywide will now be conducted at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow," the U.S. Mission said.

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/u-...allout-n794416

[TheCount]

ENOUGH ALREADY, WE MUST STOP THIS MADNESS.

I thought that you supported reducing foreign travel to the US? Seems like an easy way to do it. Money saving as well.

[NorthCarolinaLiberty]

I thought that you supported reducing foreign travel to the US? Seems like an easy way to do it. Money saving as well.

Ha ha; TheCount's progressive tolerance and diversity for globalism doesn't extend to Russia. What's the latest on that Russia "investigation?"

[Swordsmyth]

I thought that you supported reducing foreign travel to the US? Seems like an easy way to do it. Money saving as well.

I have never called for a reduction of travel to the US, I have called for reduced IMMIGRATION, not travel.
We need to control how many foreigners stay here permanently and become citizens but we don't need to limit how many come here temporarily on business or for pleasure.

[Zippyjuan]

I have never called for a reduction of travel to the US, I have called for reduced IMMIGRATION, not travel.
We need to control how many foreigners stay here permanently and become citizens but we don't need to limit how many come here temporarily on business or for pleasure.

Of course about half of those in the country illegally entered on a legal basis (tourist, business, school) and stayed.

[Swordsmyth]

Of course about half of those in the country illegally entered on a legal basis (tourist, business, school) and stayed.

Which is why ICE needs to increase visa enforcement.

[TheCount]

I have never called for a reduction of travel to the US, I have called for reduced IMMIGRATION, not travel.
We need to control how many foreigners stay here permanently and become citizens but we don't need to limit how many come here temporarily on business or for pleasure.

Then they should reverse the policy, halt all processing of immigration and work visas for Russians and issue only tourist visas.