Sputnik Vitaliy Ankov
The US State Department confirmed that it intends to suspend its last two remaining consulates general in Russia.
A spokesman for the ministry told the Russian “TASS” agency on Friday that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in close consultation with US Ambassador to Moscow John Salivan, decided to close the Consulate General in Vladivostok, in the far east of Russia, and to suspend the activities of the Consulate General in Yekaterinburg, Siberia.
The spokesman pointed out that this decision comes with the aim of optimally reorganizing the work of American diplomats in the country, “within the framework of continuous efforts to ensure the security and safety of the work of the American diplomatic mission in Russia.”
He explained that this procedure will lead to a rearrangement of jobs in the US embassy in Moscow, which will allow the United States to present its interests in the field of foreign policy in Russia in a more effective and safe manner.
And the Associated Press recently reported that the administration of US President Donald Trump informed Congress of its intention to suspend the work of the two consulates general, claiming to respond to the decision of the Russian authorities in 2017 to reduce the number of employees in American diplomatic missions in its territory.
The agency stated that 10 consulate employees will move to the embassy in Moscow.
The US Embassy in Moscow will remain the only US diplomatic mission to continue its work in Russia.
Source: TASS
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