U.S. Cuts Visa Services in Moscow as Russia Squeezes Embassy

The U.S. Embassy in Moscow said it would slash visa and consular services following a Russian ban on hiring local staff in the latest fallout from tensions between the former Cold War rivals. The Russian hiring restriction will force a 75% cut in the consular work force, the embassy said in a website statement, and services will be restricted to a minimum starting May 12. Russia announced the new limits on April 16 as part of series of retaliatory moves against the U.S. decision to expel 10 Russian diplomats and impose new sanctions for Moscow’s alleged role in the SolarWinds cyberattack and meddling in the U.S. election last year. The Kremlin denies those charges. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov played down the impact of the restrictions, noting that U.S. visa services have been limited for at least a year amid the pandemic. “The source of all this was the unfriendly actions of the United States,” he said. Peskov said the Kremlin is disappointed with the first 100 days of the admi