Latvia will lower the level of diplomatic relations with Russia out of solidarity with Estonia

Latvia will lower the level of diplomatic relations with Russia in solidarity with Estonia. This was stated on Twitter by Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics.

As the minister explained, another reason for changes in relations with Moscow was the ongoing war in Ukraine. The changes will come into effect on February 24.

Earlier, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs lowered the level of diplomatic relations with Tallinn in response to the reduction in the staff of the Russian embassy in Estonia. The country’s ambassador, Margus Laidre, was summoned to the Foreign Ministry, where he was protested. He was ordered to leave Russia, instead of him there will be a temporary chargé d’affaires.

“The entire responsibility for the development of such a situation in relations between Russia and Estonia lies entirely with the Estonian side,” Moscow said.

In response, the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs mirrored the departure of Russian Ambassador Vladimir Lipaev. He will leave the country on February 7, simultaneously with the departure of the Estonian ambassador from Moscow

After the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Estonia closed the Russian consulate in Narva and the office of the consular department of the Russian embassy in Tartu. In response, Russia closed the Estonian consulate in St. Petersburg and the office of the Estonian consulate in Pskov.

In April 2022, Latvia and Lithuania are already downgraded level of diplomatic relations with Russia. According to Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, Vilnius recalled its ambassador and ordered the Russian ambassador to leave the country. In addition, the Russian consulate in Klaipeda was closed.