The U.S. refusal to issue visas to the Russian delegation

According to the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Russia will respond to the U.S. refusal to issue visas to the members of the Russian delegation to participate in the UN General Assembly in New York.

It should be reminded that the U.S.A. had refused to issue visas to ten members of the Russian Foreign Ministry. Konstantin Kosachev, head of the International Committee of the Federation Council, was among the representatives of the Russian delegation who did not receive a visa. According to Kosachev, the U.S.A. tried to make it difficult for Russians to work at the UN General Assembly.

It should be emphasized that almost all the members of the Russian Foreign Ministry, who did not get visas, visited the U.S.A. many times.

“Of course, we will react sharply, we will try to respond. Almost all of our members have visited many times events of different UN bodies”, — said Lavrov.

However, the U.S. side called the incident private and refused to comment on the situation. The Russian Foreign Ministry protested against the U.S., accusing them of violating their obligations as the country providing the organization's headquarters.

Russia, in its turn, allowed the possibility to cancel the lottery for receiving green cards in response to the refusal to issue visas to the Russian delegation. It should be reminded that the cards are raffled every year to encourage immigration to the U.S.A. of the citizens that are not represented in the country. Russia allows restrict the access to the site for registration of those who want to get a green card or make it difficult for agencies to prepare documents for the lottery.

Obviously, the refusal to issue visas to the Russians will be at the center of discussion during the meeting of the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov with the U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.