Russian Embassy in London reduces staff because UK has delayed granting visas to personnel
The ambassador of Russia to the United Kingdom, Alexander Yakovenko, stated that Russia has been forced to cut the size of its embassy in London after Britain delayed granting visas to dozens of its staff, including career diplomats, for months, Reuters reported.
According to the Russian diplomat, Britain has been delaying visas to Russian diplomatic staff for over a year.
“The embassy is shrinking, and if it continues the embassy will be reduced further. People cannot be replaced, because the visas are not being issued. I hope this problem will be resolved under the current government,” the ambassador of Russia noted.
The agency reported that the British Ministry of Foreign Affairs refused to comment on this information.
Earlier, British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson stated that Russia risks becoming a pariah nation if it continues to bomb civilian facilities in Syria.
In response, Alexander Yakovenko accused Johnson of “anti-Russian rhetoric.”