Democratic senators from the Democratic and Republican parties called on President Joe Biden to expel 300 Russian diplomats from the United States, if Moscow does not issue more visas for Americans to represent Washington in Russia, Reuters reported.
The proposal by the chairmen of the US Senate Foreign Relations and Intelligence Committees – Democrats Bob Menendez and Mark Warner and Republicans Jim Rich and Marco Rubio – would mark a sharp escalation in the ongoing staff dispute of the embassies of both countries amid tensions between Washington and Moscow.
US Embassy in Russia cuts staff by 75%
Non-immigrant visas suspended, every American with an expired Russian visa to leave by June 15
–
Russia in August banned the US embassy in Moscow from detaining, hiring or contracting with Russian or third-country personnel other than security, forcing the US diplomatic mission to release 182 employees and dozens of contractors, the State Department said earlier.
This means that there are only about 100 American diplomats in Russia, compared to 400 Russian diplomats in the United States, the senators pointed out.
“This disproportion in diplomatic representation is unacceptable. Accordingly, Russia must issue enough visas to approach the parity between the number of American diplomats serving in Russia and the number of Russian diplomats serving in the United States, “the senators wrote in a letter to Biden.
If Moscow did not do so, they insisted that Biden should begin expelling 300 Russian diplomats.
The White House and the State Department have not yet commented on the issue.
–
Russia expels US diplomats from Moscow
After suspending the issuance of visas to Russians, a total of 10 US diplomats must leave by May 21
–
– .
