The U.S. has shut down five Honorary Consulates of Russia. The U.S. authorities called this a response to the actions of Moscow against their diplomats. The Russian MFA stated about the provocations against the workers of the Russian diplomatic mission.

The Russian Embassy received an official notification from the US authorities on the necessity to shut down five out of the six Honorary Consulates, which operated in California, Minnesota, Florida and Puerto Rico, Russian Embassy spokesman Yury Melnik said. The responsibilities of the Honorary Consuls were fulfilled by the U.S. citizens. This status was retained by the Honorary Consul in Colorado.

Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Russian MFA, stated that the “American intelligence agencies don’t stop provocations against the workers of the Russian diplomatic missions.” According to her, the consuls, whose accreditations were withdrawn, are threatened with criminal prosecution.

For its part, the U.S. embassy in Russia stated that the Honorary Consulates were closed in response to the Russian interference in their diplomatic consular activity in Russia. The embassy spokesman William Stevens said that apart from the closing of the U.S. center in Moscow, 28 of its branches had to cease their operation in Russian provinces, RBK reports.