MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The Russian Foreign Ministry asked the United States on Friday to reduce the number of the personnel of its embassy in Russia to the level commensurate with that of the Russian Embassy in the United States by September 1. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday that the diplomatic presence of the United States in Russia would be decreased by 755 employees.
"If they are members of trade unions, naturally, the trade union will make sure that the law is not broken when they are being dismissed, that the severance packages are paid," Shmakov said.
The chairman of the trade unions federation said that the US employers may face financial and legal liability if the Russian employees are dismissed in breach of legislation.
Russia's decision came as a response to a series of measures implemented or mulled by the United States.
Last week, both chambers of the US Congress approved a bill introducing economic sanctions on Russia, with the White House stating that President Donald Trump is intending to sign the bill into law.
In December 2016, Washington adopted sanctions targeting Russia over its alleged interference in the US presidential election, something which Moscow has repeatedly denied, expelling 35 Russian diplomats and seizing two diplomatic compounds used by Russia.
