June 24, 2024

More Russian Visa Centers Close


More Russian Visa Centers Close
The Russian Embassy in Washington, D.C.  dbking, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

The United States government has closed the two remaining Russian visa application centers and removed tax-exempt status from Russian diplomats.

According to Russian Ambassador Anatoly Antonov, this decision came with no warning: "Literally an hour ago, the Americans notified us of closing down the Visa Center."

This news also arrived on a significant date for Russians, June 21, one day before the 83rd anniversary of Nazi Germany's attack on the USSR. Antonov delivered his statement the next day, at an event commemorating the date: "I would like to say immediately… we will continue to operate. We will not abandon our compatriots."

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