NordenBladet – Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu of Estonia has stated that the country has no plans to close the Russian Embassy in Tallinn. This statement comes in response to Russia’s announcement earlier this week that it would be expelling Estonia’s ambassador. Reinsalu emphasized that having diplomatic representation in Russia is rational for the protection of Estonian citizens and consular interests.
Estonia’s Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu has clarified that the country has no intention of closing the Russian Embassy in Tallinn. Russia has also made no announcements of doing so. Appearing on a politics show “Esimene stuudio” , Reinsalu stated “Our embassy [in Moscow] will remain in place. We have not set as an intention closing down the Russian embassy on the territory of the Republic of Estonia, while Russia has not announced such an intention either.”
Reinsalu further explained that Estonia’s response to diplomatic measures is based on the principle of parity and that Russia must take that into account. This means that as of now, there is no intention to expel or recall all diplomats on the part of either state. Reinsalu also noted that maintaining diplomatic ties with Russia is not irrational and that the reduction in the diplomatic corps does not mean a reduction in the information flows Estonia will have access to regarding its eastern neighbor.
Reinsalu also highlighted that the countries share a common body of water and border each other, making communication on some level “inevitable”. He also clarified that Estonia’s position on Russian aggression in Ukraine has not changed.
Establishing diplomatic parity with Russia is set to be completed next month and has been a topic of discussion for a long period of time at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, given the number of times Estonia has had to expel Russian diplomats from its soil due to inappropriate activity. Latvia is also reported to be following suit in establishing diplomatic parity.
Photo: Urmas Reinsalu (Riigikogu fotoarhiiv/Erik Peinar)