Russia expelled Estonian Consul General in St. Petersburg
The Russian authorities sent a letter to Arti Hilpus, Ambassador of Estonia in Moscow, in connection with the expulsion of two Russian diplomats from the country and declared two members of the diplomatic mission of Estonia persona non grata, as published on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia.
The Foreign Ministry ordered the Consul General of Estonia in St. Petersburg, Jaanus Kirikmäe and the head of the Pskov Chancellery of the Estonian Consulate General in St. Petersburg, Kristen Kanarik to leave Russia within five days.
"It is again stressed by the Russians that the continuing destructive policy of the Estonian authorities will inevitably have a negative impact on bilateral relations. All responsibility for the consequences of this policy lies with Estonia," the press service of the ministry said. The actions of the Estonian authorities in Moscow were called "an unfriendly gesture."
On Friday, May 26th, the Estonian authorities ordered the Consul General of Russia in Narva, Dmitry Kazennov, and Consul Andrei Surgayev to leave the country without explanation. According to sources of the Delfi news portal, the reasons for this decision may be the suspicion of the diplomats’ involvement in espionage or other "unauthorized activities."
The Russian Ambassador to Estonia, Alexander Petrov, later said that Kazennov and Surgaev would have to leave Estonia by the end of May. He also refused to give reasons for the expulsion.
The Russian Foreign Ministry responded to this by saying that Estonia is justifying its "Russophobic policy," as its actions contradict "the long-term interests of relations between neighboring states." The department stressed that the responsibility for such steps will lie "with the Estonian authorities."
On Wednesday, May 31st, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia declared five Moldovan diplomats persona non grata in response to the expulsion of five employees of the Russian diplomatic mission from Moldova.