May 1st 2021 Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Zakharova said that the responsibility for the U.S. Embassy in Russia to stop issuing non-diplomatic visas and reduce consular services lies entirely with the U.S. side itself. Zakharova said the U.S. government had previously expelled several Russian diplomats to the U.S., but the Russian embassy and consulate in the U.S. still insisted on working, U.S. citizens can obtain a Russian visa within 7 to 10 days.
At present, the Russian government has not interfered in the work of the U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Russia, the United States can have up to 455 diplomats in Russia. Even without the employment of third-country citizens, U.S. embassies and consulates are perfectly capable of continuing to work, so the responsibility for stopping visas and reducing consular services at the U.S. Embassy in Russia rests solely with the U.S. itself.
On April 30, local time, the U.S. Embassy in Russia announced that from May 12, the embassy will stop issuing non-diplomatic visas and reduce consular services, the future U.S. Embassy in Russia only to provide consular services to U.S. citizens in emergency situations. Meanwhile, the U.S. Embassy says it is advised to leave Russia by June 15 if a Russian visa held by a Russian-American expires.
