Estonia made a bold move on 13 August when the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the chargé d’affaires of the Russian Embassy to deliver a diplomatic note declaring the embassy’s first secretary persona non grata.
According to a statement from the Estonian Foreign Ministry, as reported by European Pravda, the ministry emphasized that it will not tolerate any actions by Russia aimed at destabilizing Estonia’s constitutional order and internal stability.
The Estonian government deemed it necessary to send a clear message by expelling the Russian official, and it also plans to inform its partners and allies about the incident.
Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna pointed out that the expelled diplomat had played a direct and active role in undermining Estonia’s legal system, contributing to societal division and crimes against the state, including violations related to sanctions.
One Estonian citizen has already been convicted in connection with these crimes, further highlighting the seriousness of the situation.
In Minister Tsahkna’s words, “The Russian embassy’s interference in Estonia’s internal affairs must cease, and by taking this action, we are affirming that Estonia will not tolerate any foreign state orchestrating actions on its soil.”
Further details reveal that Estonia’s decision aligns with Article 9 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which allows the receiving state to declare any member of a diplomatic mission persona non grata without needing to provide justification for the expulsion.
Background information shows that Estonia previously expelled a Ukrainian citizen in late May for maintaining ties with Russian intelligence, and in early June, a Russian citizen was also expelled for national security reasons.
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