Russia demands withdrawal of US diplomats with more than three years in Moscow

Russia today demanded that the United States Embassy in Moscow withdraw from the country within two months of all diplomats who have been working for more than three years, in response to the expulsion of 27 Russian diplomats from the United States.

“Employees of the United States Embassy who have been in Moscow for more than three years must leave the country until January 31, 2022,” said Maria Zajárova, spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, at her weekly press conference. which is a response to the limitations placed on Russian diplomats in the United States.

According to Zajárova, Washington does not have the authority to dictate to Russia the parameters of stay of diplomats in the United States.

“They were sent there by Russia based on the human resources policy of our institution, the diplomatic service. The US partners decided for us how and who of the Russian diplomats should leave the country and cease their activities, “he said, denouncing that” this is not part of the diplomatic norms in any way, “he said.

Zajárova indicated that it is “a flagrant interference in the sovereign right of a State that elects its representatives, diplomats and defines the duration of their stay, based on the laws and rules written by the host.”

“I emphasize that it is not our choice. It is a game that our American partners imposed on us, “he said, and regretted that efforts to” reason and give a constructive solution “to the matter did not lead to anything.

The Russian ambassador to the United States, Anatoli Antonov, informed the Rossiya 24 television channel last Saturday that 27 Russian diplomats will have to leave the United States on January 30 and as many on June 30, 2022, due to the American refusal to do so. extend the visa, since they have been in the country for more than three years.

The Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Sergei Riabkov, warned today that Russia will respond symmetrically and request the departure of those diplomats who have been in Russia for more than three years, although he pointed out that Moscow “is against that and has proposed that the Americans resign. to these demands ”.

In addition, he regretted that the United States has not yet responded to Russia regarding the date of the next consultation on diplomatic discrepancies between the two countries, which deepen tensions between Moscow and Washington.

“It would be enough to announce the cessation of these demands. And then we would dialogue and look for solutions. But that does not happen, they continue to advance by force, the attempts to pressure continue ”, he concluded.