In a notification dated December 10, the US State Department told Congress it intends to close the consulate in Vladivostok and suspend operations at the consulate in Yekaterinburg. "The Department's decision on the U.S. consulates in Russia was taken to optimize the work of the U.S. mission in Russia," the spokesperson said Friday. "The resulting realignment of personnel at U.S. Embassy Moscow will allow us to advance our foreign policy interests in Russia in the most effective and safe manner possible." The department temporarily suspended operations in March at the consulate in Vladivostok due to the coronavirus pandemic. Now, with the planned closure of the remaining two consulates -- which was first reported by the Associated Press -- all services for American citizens will be run out of Moscow.

Source: CNN December 19, 2020 02:11 UTC