America closes two consulates in Russia

SANAA, Dec. 20 (YPA) – The United States of America closed its consulates in Vladivostok and Catherineburg in Russia until further notice, amid tension in relations between the two countries.
When announcing the closure, the US State Department said that it had “taken the decision aimed at improving the work of the diplomatic mission.”
Last March, the consulate in Vladivostok was closed for a period due to the Coronavirus pandemic, while the consulate in Katherine was operating in a limited situation.
The American “CNN” network revealed Washington’s intention to close the country’s consulates in Russia.
On Friday, CNN stated that a memorandum in this regard was sent by the State Department to Congress on December 10.
This step comes “in response to the continuing problems faced by the American mission staff after the ceiling set by Russia for the American mission in 2017 and the resulting impasse with Russia regarding diplomatic visas.”
On Friday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo suggested that Russia was responsible for unprecedented cyber attacks targeting a federal agency in the United States, which Moscow denied.
Hackers believed to be working for Russia are accused of launching widespread cyber attacks on US government agencies and private companies.
“CNN” reported that ten US diplomats working in the two consulates will be transferred to the US embassy in Moscow, while 33 local employees will lose their jobs.
Thus, the embassy in Moscow will remain the only diplomatic representation of the United States in Russia.
Moscow closed its consulate in Saint Petersburg in 2018.