Estonia, Moldova expel Russian diplomats amid rising tensions

Estonia has declared a member of the Russian embassy staff persona non grata, a move reported by Delfi on Tuesday. 

In response to the actions attributed to Russia, Estonian authorities summoned a representative of the Russian Embassy to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where they were handed a diplomatic note outlining the decision. 

The message conveyed by Tallinn said it would not tolerate actions deemed harmful to its national security, the media reported. 

Furthermore, Estonia has called for an end to what it perceives as hybrid operations orchestrated by Russian special services targeting its security interests.

In a parallel development on the same day, Moldova also took a similar diplomatic action by expelling a Russian diplomat. RBC reported that the Russian ambassador was summoned to the Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where it was communicated that a member of the Russian diplomatic mission had been declared persona non grata. This action was taken in response to the individual’s alleged involvement in organizing Russian presidential elections, which Moldovan authorities deemed unacceptable.

These diplomatic expulsions come against the backdrop of heightened tensions following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.