HELSINKI, Feb. 8 Russia reduces the number of embassy employees in Tallinn , the Russian ambassador left Estonia on Tuesday, Anna Tisler-Lavrentyev, spokesperson for the Estonian Foreign Ministry, said on Wednesday.
«The Russian Embassy complied with the requirements set by the note of the Estonian Foreign Ministry. Russian Ambassador Vladimir Lipaev left Estonia on Tuesday,» Tisler-Lavrentiev told the state broadcasting portal ERR, adding that Estonian Ambassador to Russia Margus Laidre also left Moscow on Tuesday
She clarified that the number of employees of the Russian embassy was to be reduced to 8 diplomats and 15 members of administrative, technical and service personnel by February 1. Until February 1, 21 diplomats and 23 seconded employees worked in the Russian embassy in Tallinn.
Earlier, the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed the Russian Ambassador of the decision, according to which Russia must reduce the number of employees in the embassy in Tallinn from February 1 this year.The Ministry noted that the purpose of this decision is to achieve parity in the number of posts in Russian Russian consular offices in Narva and Tartu were closed last spring. In turn, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement about lowering the level of diplomatic relations with Estonia. It notes that Estonia has taken a new unfriendly step to radically reduce the size of the Russian embassy in Tallinn, confirming the line towards the collapse of relations between the countries.
As a response, the Russian side decided to downgrade the diplomatic representative to charge d'affaires, and the Estonian ambassador was ordered to leave Moscow on February 7. Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu reported that Russian Ambassador Vladimir Lipaev would have to leave Estonia on February 7, simultaneously with Laidre's departure from Russia.