Putin dismissed Russian ambassadors to Latvia and Estonia

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees on the release of Russian ambassadors to Latvia and Estonia, Mikhail Vanin and Vladimir Lipaev, from their duties. The documents are published on the portal of legal information.

“To release Vanin Mikhail Valentinovich from the duties of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Latvia,” the statement says. document.

A similar wording is used in decree on release from his duties and Vladimir Lipaev.

On January 23, the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned Estonian Ambassador Margus Laidre and announced to him about lowering the level of diplomatic representative in both countries to charge d’affaires. The ambassador was ordered to leave Russia. In the Russian Foreign Ministry, this decision was explained by total Russophobia on the part of Estonia, as well as the deliberate destruction of relations with Moscow by Tallinn. In response to the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs obliged Lipaev to leave Tallinn.

Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the same day announced about lowering the level of diplomatic relations with Russia as a sign of solidarity with Estonia, and ordered Vanin to leave Riga. Moscow in response demanded from the Latvian ambassador to leave Russia.

March 24 Estonia announced Russian diplomat persona non grata, ordering him to leave the country by March 29. The Estonian Foreign Ministry explained that the actions of an unnamed employee violated the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. The released statement said that the diplomat allegedly “undermined the security and constitutional order of Estonia, disseminated propaganda justifying Russia’s military actions, and tried to split the Estonian society.” At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation reportedthat the answer to the decision of Tallinn to expel the Russian diplomat will follow.