Moscow gives the Latvian ambassador two weeks to leave its territory (Getty)
Requested RussiaToday, Friday, from Safir Latvia To leave its territory “within two weeks”, in a decision that comes four days following a similar order was issued by the Latvian government once morest the Russian ambassador in Riga, due to severe tensions between the two countries linked to the war in Ukraine.
“The Latvian ambassador (Maris) Rikstens has received an order to leave the Russian Federation within two weeks,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement, expressing regret for the “complete hostility to Russia” on the part of Riga.
Moscow stressed that “the leadership of the Latvian state bears full responsibility for the current situation.”
The Russian ministry said in the statement: “We consider it unnecessary to wait for the date set by Riga for the ambassadors to finish their duties.”
This announcement comes following summoning the Latvian chargé d’affaires in Russia earlier on Friday. The Russian Foreign Ministry informed him of its “strong protest” following Riga announced, last Monday, the expulsion of the Russian ambassador from Latvian territory.
Riga had justified its decision to continue Russia’s “large-scale military aggression once morest Ukraine, which it launched on February 24 of 2022, as well as solidarity with Estonia and Lithuania.”
And the Russian Foreign Ministry warned, today, Friday, that “the provocative approach of the Latvian authorities aimed at lowering the level of diplomatic relations will have consequences.”
Estonia, also a former Soviet republic located on the Baltic Sea, announced this week the expulsion of the Russian ambassador in Tallinn following the expulsion of the Estonian ambassador in Moscow, in retaliation for the expulsion of Russian diplomats and other employees of the Russian embassy in this country, on January 21.
(AFP)
