In the wake of heightened tensions between Moscow and Washington US journalists have asked the residents of the Glover Park neighborhood next to the Russian Embassy whether they are worried about possible spying activity by the diplomatic mission, an email sent out by the Washington Examiner revealed.
The reporter explained in the email that she was currently working on an article about Glover Park's relationship with the Russian Embassy.
"Is it a frequent topic of conversation? Do you think that having the Embassy in your neighborhood has had much of an impact in the neighborhood? Why or why not?," the email added.
One Glover Park resident told Sputnik on Monday that she had never been concerned about the embassy until receiving the email from the Examiner, stressing that now she "might worry that there could be violence by Americans against that building and apartment buildings in the neighborhood where many Russian embassy workers live."
"The press must avoid stirring people up," she emphasized.
Sputnik has reached out to the Washington Examiner and is awaiting its response.
The story comes amid Moscow’s decision to cut the US diplomatic presence in Russia.
On Friday, the Russian Foreign Ministry urged the United States to bring the number of diplomats and technical staff of diplomatic missions in Russia in line with the number of Russian diplomatic representatives in the United States before September 1.
Consequently, the total number of personnel employed in US diplomatic and consular offices in Russia will be reduced to 455 people. On Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the diplomatic presence of the United States in Russia would be cut by 755 employees.
Russia's move came as a response to a series of measures implemented by the United States.
The White House is looking into options to respond to Moscow’s decision, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said during a press briefing on Monday.
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