Russia banishes Latvian ambassador as diplomatic relations worsen

On Friday, 27 January the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia banished Datze Rutka, a temporary Charge d'Affaires of Latvia, and obliged her to leave the territory of Russia within two weeks, in response to Riga’s decision to lower the level of diplomatic relations.

Source: European Pravda, referring to press release of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Russia

The Russian side expressed its "vigorous protest" against the Latvian diplomat, claiming that "justifying this step by the so-called solidarity with other Baltic countries is not acceptable."

The Russian Foreign Ministry also traditionally blamed Latvia for "total russophobia" and "complete clean-up of the Russian-speaking information space, elimination of the Soviet memorial and cultural heritage, and criminal prosecution of compatriots."

Background: On Monday, 23 January, the Russian ambassador was informed about the Latvian side’s decision to lower its level of diplomatic representation in Russia starting 24 February (the anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine – ed.) to the position of a temporary Charge d’Affaires.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs added that the decision was made due to Russia continuing its full-scale military aggression against Ukraine starting on 24 February 2022, as well as out of solidarity with Estonia and Lithuania.

Earlier this week, it was revealed that the Russian ambassador in Estonia must leave the country in the beginning of February after the level of diplomatic relations between the two countries was lowered. In response,Russia obliged Margus Laidr, the ambassador of Estonia in Russia, to leave the country by 7 February, and withdrew its ambassador in Tallinn.

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