Russia’s Foreign Ministry has sharply criticized the United States for what it calls “blatant visa discrimination” against Russian citizens.
In a statement on Tuesday, MFA Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said that while Americans receive Russian visas with ease, Russian nationals face an “unreasonable and inhumane” level of difficulty when applying for U.S. visas.

According to Zakharova:
“U.S. citizens receive Russian visas ‘just like that’, while Russian nationals must leave their own country, wait months for an interview, and still have no guarantee that the United States will actually issue a visa.”

Long Waits, No Guarantees

Zakharova highlighted several issues facing Russian applicants:

• The U.S. diplomatic mission in Russia remains heavily restricted,

• Russians often must fly to a third country to apply for a U.S. visa,

• Interview slots are booked months in advance,

• Even after long waits, visas are frequently denied without explanation.

She described the situation as “unfair on both political and humanitarian grounds.”

“We Do Not Retaliate Against Ordinary People”

Dismissing accusations that Russia might impose similar barriers, Zakharova said Moscow will not penalize regular American travelers.

“We never retaliate against ordinary people,” she insisted.
“Our problem is with political decisions made in Washington—not with American citizens.”

Worsening Diplomatic Tensions

The visa dispute is the latest chapter in the increasingly strained relationship between Moscow and Washington.
Tensions have escalated due to:

• the war in Ukraine,

• sweeping U.S. sanctions against Russia,

• the reduction of diplomatic staff and services,

• and multiple disputes over detained citizens.

Analysts say visa access has become symbolic of the broader diplomatic breakdown between the two countries.

Russia’s Position

The Russian Foreign Ministry insists that:

• Russia continues to issue visas to Americans quickly and transparently,

• the U.S. is deliberately making it harder for Russians to travel,

• politicizing people-to-people exchange is unacceptable.