Russian Consulate General in New York. Gryffindor / en.wikipedia.org (CC BY-SA 3.0)
The Russian Consulate General in New York has been struggling to work with blocked bank accounts for almost 60 days, RIA Novosti reports. According to Acting Consul General Vyacheslav Slavkin, all accounts at Bank of America have been frozen since mid-March. It is impossible to pay for utilities, insurance, gasoline, there are difficulties with paying salaries to employees, he explained.
The consulate is using the cash reserve to pay for expenses. They also use the money with which citizens pay for consular services - such services are provided in full, Vyacheslav Slavkin assured.
It is still difficult to say how long this situation will last. The State Department promised to help with opening accounts at another bank, but so far there has been no result.
Diplomatic missions have been often threatened lately, employees receive messages by e-mail and by phone.
Washington also refuses to issue visas to Russian diplomats. The Consul General in New York had to leave the US because his visa had expired. His replacement waited for a visa for over a year, but was never able to get it.
Vyacheslav Slavkin confirmed that enhanced security measures have been introduced at the consulate, since some kind of rallies are held near the building almost every day. Three police squads are on duty around the clock.
Russkiy Mir
