The Russian government yesterday formally categorized the U.S. as an ‘unfriendly country’ in retaliation for new American sanctions last month as tension continues mounting.
The new order from Moscow approves ‘the attached list of foreign states committing unfriendly actions against the Russian Federation, citizens of the Russian Federation or Russian legal entities,’ according to a translation obtained by Africa Today News, New York.
Despite an extensive group of candidate nations with which Moscow has had high-profile grievances in recent years, the final list includes only two countries: the U.S. and the Czech Republic, which has feuded with Russia in recent years over an explosion at one of its arms depots in 2104 and last month expelled more than a dozen Russian diplomats. Moscow denies any involvement.
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The Kremlin did not immediately clarify the deliberative process that went into selecting the countries, but it aligns with the wishes of Russian President Vladimir Putin from directives he gave the legislature after signaling his interest in creating such a list last month.
Despite its ominous connotations, though, the new classification may be more symbolism than substance. In practice, it only limits the extent to which countries can hire Russian nationals at their embassies in Moscow and other diplomatic facilities. The Czech Republic is now limited to no more than 19 workers. The U.S. now may not hire any.
And to put the selections in context, Russia did not name to the list Ukraine – home to an ongoing war with Russian separatists backed by Moscow – and Poland, the site of increased NATO activity in recent years in an attempt to deter against what the alliance considers Russian provocations. Both countries previously have been among those that Russian officials in the past have rhetorically considered unfriendly.
The Russian Embassy in Washington, D.C., did not respond immediately to requests for comment.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK