Diplomatic relations
On 2 February 1920, the Treaty of Tartu was signed between Estonia and Russia (then the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic), under which the two states mutually recognised each other’s independence.
During the interwar period, the ambassadors of the Republic of Estonia to Moscow were Tõnis Vares (1921–1922), Ado Birk (1922–1926), Heinrich Laretei (1926–1928), Julius Seljamaa (1928–1933), Karl Tofer (1933–1936), August Traksmaa (1936–1937) and August Rei (1938–1940).
Russia re-recognised Estonia on 24 August 1991. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were restored on 24 October 1991. Jüri Kahn, the first ambassador of re-independent Estonia to the Russian Federation, presented his credentials on 4 February 1992. He was followed by Mart Helme (1995–1999), Tiit Matsulevitš (1999–2001), Karin Jaani (2001–2005), Marina Kaljurand (2005–2008), Simmu Tiik (2008–2012), Jüri Luik (2013–2015), Arti Hilpus (2015–2018) and Margus Laidre (2018–2023). From February 2023, Estonia was represented in Russia by Chargé d’Affaires Jana Vanamölder. Since August 2025, the embassy has been headed by Chargé d’Affaires Marek Ühtegi.
Aleksander Trofimov, the first ambassador of Russia to re-independent Estonia, presented his credentials on 9 September 1992. He was followed by Aleksei Glukhov (1997–2000), Konstantin Provalov (2001–2006), Nikolai Uspensky (2006–2009), Yuri Merzlyakov (2010–2015), Aleksandr Petrov (2015–2022), Vladimir Lipaev (2022–2023), and Lenar Salimullin as Chargé d’Affaires (2023-2025). Since December 2025, the Embassy of Russia in Tallinn has been headed by Chargé d’Affaires Kamran Abilov.
Estonia’s Consulate General in St Petersburg and its Consular Office in Pskov were closed in spring 2022 following Russia’s launch of its full-scale war against Ukraine. Russia’s Consulate General in Narva and the Chancery of the Consular Section of the Russian Embassy in Tartu were also closed.