The Foreign Ministry demanded that the Latvian ambassador leave Russia within two weeks

Russian Foreign Ministry called Chargé d’Affaires of Latvia Daciya Rutka, protesting to her in connection with the decision of the Latvian leadership to lower the level of Russian-Latvian diplomatic relations, and demanding that the ambassador of the republic leave the Russian Federation within two weeks.

Earlier, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia announced that lower as a sign of solidarity with Estonia, the diplomatic level of relations with the Russian Federation since February 24. Until that date, Russian Ambassador Mikhail Vanin must leave the country.

The Russian Foreign Ministry, as reported on the website of the Foreign Ministry, did not accept Latvia’s arguments about solidarity with Estonia and believes that this decision was caused by “total Russophobia and the desire to initiate hostile steps against the Russian Federation.”

“The Latvian VPD was told that as soon as the fundamental decision was made, we do not consider it necessary to wait until the date indicated by Riga for the ambassadors to complete their missions. Ambassador of Latvia M. Riekstins was ordered to leave the Russian Federation within two weeks,” the message says.

The Foreign Ministry also added that such actions by Riga would have consequences.

23 January Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation called Ambassador of Estonia Margus Laidre and announced to him that the level of diplomatic representative in both countries was downgraded to charge d’affaires. The ambassador was ordered to leave Russia by 7 February. In the Russian Foreign Ministry, such decisions were 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 declaredthat the Russian ambassador Vladimir Lipaev must also leave Tallinn before 7 February.