Russia calls new US sanctions blackmail creating unfair advantage

MOSCOW, Jul 28 (PRIME) -- A new U.S. sanctions draft is blackmail aimed at curtailing relations with Russia and demonstrates that the relations are a hostage to infighting in Washington, the Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

“The adoption of the new sanctions law has showed very clearly that relations with Russia have become a hostage to political fighting in the U.S.,” the ministry said in a statement.

“Besides, the new law is aimed at creating unfair competitive advantages for the U.S. in the global economy. Such blackmail is aimed at limiting interaction between foreign partners and Russia bear a threat for many countries and international business.”

Late on Thursday, the U.S. Senate approved a bill on new sanctions against Russia, Iran and North Korea. The bill was approved by the House of Representatives earlier this week, and it will come in force if signed by the president.

The Foreign Ministry also ordered the U.S. to reduce the number of its diplomats to 455 until September 1 to make their number even with the Russian diplomats in the U.S.

“We suggest that the American side bring the number of diplomatic and technical employees working in the U.S. embassy in Moscow, general consulates in St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg and Vladivostok to absolute equality with the number of Russian diplomats and members of the technical team which work in the U.S. until September 1,” the ministry said.

The authority also said that in case of reduction of the number of Russian diplomats in the U.S., Moscow will retaliate symmetrically.

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