However, the ministry's spokesperson said it was a shame that the visa services would still be limited. He also said Russian athletes as well as Aeroflot crews have faced multiple visa delays.

The US Embassy to Russia said on Monday it would restart some visa services in US consulates which it had previously cancelled due to diplomatic expulsions that had left it short-staffed.

The United States began to scale back its visa services in Russia in August, drawing an angry reaction from Moscow three weeks after the Russian President ordered Washington to more than halve its embassy and consular staff.

The US step meant Russian citizens wanting to visit the United States for business, tourism or educational reasons were no longer able to apply via US consulates outside Moscow and had to travel to the Russian capital instead.

--Reuters--