Three Russian Embassy staff declared personae non gratae in Latvia

RIGA - Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics (New Unity) has made the decision to declare three Russian Embassy staff personae non gratae in Latvia, the minister announced on his Twitter account today.

The decision was made due to the fact that the current activities of those persons under diplomatic cover are incompatible with their diplomatic status and are causing detriment to the Republic of Latvia.

The foreign minister admitted that the expulsion of Russian embassy staff is a coordinated action of the Baltic States.

Four Russian Embassy staff in Lithuania have been declared personae non gratae, but three in Estonia.

The Foreign Ministry LETA that the Foreign Minister’s decision was taken in solidarity with Ukraine in its fight against the unprovoked and unjustified military aggression by Russia against Ukraine, with members of security services of the Russian Federation having played an important role in the planning and implementation of that aggression.

Latvia strongly condemns the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation and reiterates the demand that Russia’s military aggression be immediately stopped, as well as abiding by the ruling of the United Nations International Court of Justice of March 16, 2022 on this matter, and returning to compliance with international rules.

The decision has been notified to the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Latvia, Mikhail Vanin, today, and the persons subject to expulsion must leave the Republic of Latvia by 23:59 on March 23.