Addressing Russia-1 state-owned television channel, Zakharova warned about the silence they received as a response from the US Department of State when they asked if such restrictions are also implemented to diplomats from other countries.

Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov recalled in a recent interview that Washington gave Moscow a list of 24 of its diplomats who must leave US territory by September 3.

The decision responds to the unilateral restriction by the United States that the Russian diplomats must work for a three-year period, Antonov told the National Interest magazine.

Faced with accusations, the US Department of State commented that it did not want an escalation with Moscow regarding the time those diplomats must work and these restrictions are intended to balance the operation of the respective embassies.

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