On Wednesday, Estonia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the chargé d’affaires of the Russian Embassy to deliver a diplomatic note declaring the First Secretary of the Russian diplomatic mission in Tallinn persona non grata.
According to a statement on the Estonian MFA website, the Russian diplomat is required to leave Estonia.
While delivering the note, the Estonian MFA informed the Russian Embassy representative that Tallinn does not intend to tolerate activities by Russia aimed at undermining Estonia’s constitutional order and internal stability, and considers it necessary to express this very clearly. Estonia will also inform its partners and allies about the incident.
“The diplomat in question was directly and actively involved in undermining Estonia’s constitutional order and legal system, as well as in dividing Estonian society, facilitating crimes against the state, including several offenses related to sanctions violations,” said Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna.
He emphasized that one Estonian citizen has already been convicted for committing these crimes.
“Prolonged interference by the Russian Embassy in the internal affairs of the Republic of Estonia must stop, and by expelling this diplomat, we are demonstrating that Estonia will not allow any actions orchestrated or organized by a foreign state on its territory,” Tsahkna added.
The statement notes that Estonia’s actions are in accordance with Article 9 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which allows a host state to declare the head of a mission or any member of diplomatic staff persona non grata at any time and without explanation
