US expels Russian diplomats, shuts down consulate in retaliation
The US is retaliating against Russia by forcing its consulate in San Francisco to close and scaling back its diplomatic presence in Washington and the Big Apple.
The State Department said the move was in response to the Kremlin forcing a hefty cut in US diplomatic staff in Moscow.
Spokeswoman Heather Nauert said the move brings the US and Russia into “parity” — with each having three consulates in the other country.
Moscow forced the cut in American diplomatic staff earlier this year in retaliation for US sanctions, a move that cut the diplomatic staff by 755 people.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had said the US would respond by September.
The Russian offices must close by Saturday.
The order affects Russia’s “chancery annex” in Washington and a “consular annex” on the Upper East Side in New York.
With AP