"Permission for diplomats posted to the Russian Embassy in London to enter and remain in the UK is given/granted in accordance with joint FCO and UKVI procedures, and in line with arrangements agreed with Russia. Processing times have been reduced over the last year. Our approach to extending visas for Russian Embassy staff in London reflects the arrangements for British Embassy staff in Moscow," a Foreign Office spokesperson RIA Novosti.
Earlier in the day, the Russian Embassy in London said it had sent a note to the UK Foreign Office regarding visa processing times. The embassy also accused the United Kingdom of breaching the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations by limiting the stay of Russian diplomats.
According to the note, Russian diplomats and their families will not be able to visit Russia during New Year holidays as their passports have not been returned by the UK Foreign Office for 16 weeks.
The Russian Embassy also slammed London for unilaterally limiting the stay of solely Russian diplomats to three years.
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