Today 30 August, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia decided to not issue a visa to a Russian diplomat in response to the expulsion of our diplomat from the Russian Federation.
According to diplomatic custom, the expulsion of a diplomat is reciprocated. In this case, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to end the situation and hopes that despite its asymmetrical action, the Russian Federation refrains from a further escalation of the situation. Estonia is interested in good and constructive relations with all its neighbours; however, this requires the same spirit from Russia.
In early July this year, the Russian Federation expelled Mart Lätte, a consul at the Estonian Consulate General in St Petersburg. Estonia responded by declaring a Russian diplomat persona non grata, which was followed by an asymmetrical decision by the Russian Federation to expel an employee of the Estonian Embassy in Moscow in early August.
Additional information:
Communication Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
[email protected]
