On Monday, the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned the Estonian Ambassador, Margus Laidre, asking him to leave the country by 7 February due to Estonia’s “new unfriendly step to radically reduce the size of the Russian embassy in Tallinn.”
Signalling it as a “collapse” of ties between the two countries, Moscow has “decided to downgrade the diplomatic representative in both countries to Chargé d'Affaires.” It further accused the Estonian leadership of “deliberately destroying the whole range of relations,” saying, “Total Russophobia, the cultivation of hostility towards our country have been elevated by Tallinn to the rank of state policy.”
This was in response to an Estonian initiative to cut the size of the Russian embassy in Tallinn, according to the statement.
— Gurbaksh Singh Chahal (@gchahal) January 23, 2023
This move came against the backdrop of Estonia removing 21 Russian diplomats and embassy staff earlier this month to “reach parity” between the diplomatic staffs of the two countries.
Estonia Expels Russian Ambassador
In response to Russia’s decision, the Estonian Foreign Ministry has asked the Russian Ambassador Vladimir Lipayev to leave on 7 February as well, following “the principle of parity.”
#Estonia takes note of today’s decision by Russia to reduce diplomatic presence to the level of chargé d’affaires.
— Estonian MFA 🇪🇪 | 🌻 #StandWithUkraine (@MFAestonia) January 23, 2023
We stand by the principle of parity in relations with Russia, which means that the Russian Amb. will leave at the same time as the Estonian Amb. to Russia.
“Russia’s steps will not deter us from providing continued support to Ukraine, which has been fighting for its sovereignty and the security of us all for nearly a year now,” it added in a statement.
Estonia has been one of the strongest supporters of Ukraine, pledging 1% of its GDP to Kyiv’s defensive aid on Monday, including all of its 155mm howitzers and ammunition.
“We want to set a precedent in such a way that other countries have no excuses why they cannot provide Ukraine with the weapons it needs to win the war,” Estonian Ambassador to Ukraine Kaimo Kuusk asserted.
Latvia Follows Suit
Due to the ongoing brutal Russian aggression against #Ukraine and in solidarity with #Estonia, #Latvia will lower level of diplomatic relations with #Russia effective February 24, demanding Russia to act accordingly
— Edgars Rinkēvičs (@edgarsrinkevics) January 23, 2023
Similarly, later on Monday, Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs Edgars Rinkēvičs announced that “Latvia will lower level of diplomatic relations with Russia effective 24 February” in solidarity with Estonia.