The Baltic States are expelling Russian ambassadors: they must leave during February

Latvia demands, in solidarity with Estonia and Lithuania, that the Russian ambassador leave the country by February 24, reports “Ukrainian Truth".

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“The Russian Ambassador must leave Latvia by February 24, 2023. Also, the Ambassador of the Republic of Latvia to Russia is leaving Russia until February 24,” the ministry said in a statement.

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Earlier, on January 23, the Russian ambassador was notified of the decision of the Latvian side to reduce the level of its diplomatic representation in Russia from February 24 to the level of charge d'affaires.

The Foreign Ministry added that the decision was made in view of the fact that Russia continues the full-scale military aggression against Ukraine launched on February 24, 2022, as well as in solidarity with Estonia and Lithuania.

The Estonian Foreign Ministry informed Russian Ambassador Vladimir Lipaev of the need to reduce the number of Russian diplomats to eight from February 1, 2023.

“The decision was made in order to achieve parity or equivalence in the number of posts in the embassy,” Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu said at a press conference.

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In response to Estonia's demand to reduce the number of employees of the Russian Embassy, ​​Russia decided to lower the level of diplomatic relations with Estonia to Chargé d'Affaires, in connection with which the Estonian Ambassador to the Russian Federation, Margus Laidri, was ordered to leave Russia until February 7, 2023.

Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu then said that he would call on EU member states to adhere to the principle of parity in diplomatic relations with Russia, according to which the number of diplomats in both countries should be the same.

On April 4, 2022, Lithuania decided to downgrade diplomatic relations with Russia "in response to Russia's military aggression against sovereign Ukraine and the atrocities committed by the Russian armed forces in various occupied Ukrainian cities, including the heinous massacre in Bucha." Lithuania expels the Russian ambassador, recalls its ambassador and closes the Russian consulate in Klaipeda.

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On May 10, the Lithuanian Seimas, noting that the Russian military “deliberately and systematically selects civilian targets for bombing”, recognized Russia as a “state supporting and carrying out terrorism”, and its military actions against Ukraine as genocide of the Ukrainian people.

In 2023, the conditions for obtaining Schengen visas and trips to European countries have become tougher for Russian tourists. -Polis.

Recall that in September 2022, the simplified visa regime for Russia was canceled. This greatly complicates the issuance of Schengen visas. Now the issuance of tourist visas and entry into the country for the purpose of tourism are prohibited by Finland, Poland, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia. A number of countries have not officially stopped issuing tourist visas. However, in practice it is impossible to do this, since the requirements of the states are practically impossible to fulfill (payment of the fee through Western banks, foreign insurance). These include Germany, Slovenia, Malta.

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