Photo credit: Kristina Levina Traveler and travel agent / youtube.com
In the first six months of this year, the number of Russian visas received by Americans has dropped significantly compared to the same period last year, Izvestia reports. According to Nadezhda Shumova, who heads the consular department of the Russian Embassy in the United States, it has become almost three times lower.
It's too early to sum up the entire year, she added, but the number of visas issued between January and July speaks for itself.
The diplomat noted that this trend is not surprising. It is easily explained by the anti-Russian propaganda that is carried out in most of the American media.
Nadezhda Shumova added that the Russian side continues issuing visas as before, while Russians are forced to obtain documents for entry into the United States in other countries. The US Embassy in Moscow, citing a lack of staff, has suspended the processing of most types of documents, and the consulates general in Vladivostok and Yekaterinburg stopped functioning.
Washington has long declared a visa war on Russia. Difficulties when trying to enter the United States are faced not only by ordinary Russian citizens, but also by journalists and diplomats who travel overseas to work.
Russkiy Mir
