Some analysts called the Russian foreign ministry's tit for tat consul general expulsion an overreaction, but the move was hardly atypical especially considering the frosty relations between Russia and Estonia.
TALLINN — A diplomatic spat is brewing between Russia and Estonia after each country dismissed a consul from the other.
The Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a meeting with the Russian ambassador to Estonia Nikolai Nikolajevitch Uspenski Monday to discuss Russia’s decision to expel Rasmus Lumi, the Estonian consul general in [private_supervisor]St. Petersburg.
The dispute arose when Estonia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not allow the new Russian consul general in Narva to start work because, according to an unidentified source that spoke to the Postimees newspaper, he was a long-term employee of the GRU, the Russian Foreign Military Intelligence Directorate. His name has not been released.
At the meeting with Uspenski, the foreign ministry protested against Russia’s move, which the Russians said was justified as a response to the Estonia’s decision.
The Estonian foreign ministry is not giving any additional comments concerning the issue.
“According to the international customs such decisions are not commented on,” Mariann Sudakov, press spokeswoman of the ministry of foreign affairs told Baltic Reports.
Vahur Made, deputy principal of the Estonian School of Diplomats told Kuku Radio Monday that while Russia’s step implies a political power play, will for revenge and unfriendly attitude, it is similar to previous incidents and not a cause for alarm.
Made said Russia’s reaction to send out Estonia’s Consul General in St.Petersburg was political theater, as Estonia has the right to determine foreign delegates.
“Any diplomatic representative must get an agreement, and Estonia has every right to turn back any diplomatic candidate,” said Made.
Typically tense
Kadri Liik, director of International Center for Defense Studies told Postimees that while Russia overreacted to the situation, but didn’t see anything unusual about the action taken.
Relations between the former Soviet republics has been frosty in recent years. Prime Minister Andrus Ansip rebuffed a handshake attempt from Prime Minister Vladimir Putin at Baltic Sea Action Summit last month.
Estonia has been the loudest critic of Russia’s Nord Stream project among the Baltic states, citing environmental concerns. Meanwhile the reaction to the April 2007 riots in response to the removal of Tallinn’s Bronze Soldier monument to Red Army soldiers in WWII continues to be a bone of contention between the two countries as well as between ethnic Russians living in Estonia and the ethnic Estonian majority. [/private_supervisor] [private_subscription 1 month]St. Petersburg.
The dispute arose when Estonia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not allow the new Russian consul general in Narva to start work because, according to an unidentified source that spoke to the Postimees newspaper, he was a long-term employee of the GRU, the Russian Foreign Military Intelligence Directorate. His name has not been released.
At the meeting with Uspenski, the foreign ministry protested against Russia’s move, which the Russians said was justified as a response to the Estonia’s decision.
The Estonian foreign ministry is not giving any additional comments concerning the issue.
“According to the international customs such decisions are not commented on,” Mariann Sudakov, press spokeswoman of the ministry of foreign affairs told Baltic Reports.
Vahur Made, deputy principal of the Estonian School of Diplomats told Kuku Radio Monday that while Russia’s step implies a political power play, will for revenge and unfriendly attitude, it is similar to previous incidents and not a cause for alarm.
Made said Russia’s reaction to send out Estonia’s Consul General in St.Petersburg was political theater, as Estonia has the right to determine foreign delegates.
“Any diplomatic representative must get an agreement, and Estonia has every right to turn back any diplomatic candidate,” said Made.
Typically tense
Kadri Liik, director of International Center for Defense Studies told Postimees that while Russia overreacted to the situation, but didn’t see anything unusual about the action taken.
Relations between the former Soviet republics has been frosty in recent years. Prime Minister Andrus Ansip rebuffed a handshake attempt from Prime Minister Vladimir Putin at Baltic Sea Action Summit last month.
Estonia has been the loudest critic of Russia’s Nord Stream project among the Baltic states, citing environmental concerns. Meanwhile the reaction to the April 2007 riots in response to the removal of Tallinn’s Bronze Soldier monument to Red Army soldiers in WWII continues to be a bone of contention between the two countries as well as between ethnic Russians living in Estonia and the ethnic Estonian majority. [/private_subscription 1 month] [private_subscription 4 months]St. Petersburg.
The dispute arose when Estonia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not allow the new Russian consul general in Narva to start work because, according to an unidentified source that spoke to the Postimees newspaper, he was a long-term employee of the GRU, the Russian Foreign Military Intelligence Directorate. His name has not been released.
At the meeting with Uspenski, the foreign ministry protested against Russia’s move, which the Russians said was justified as a response to the Estonia’s decision.
The Estonian foreign ministry is not giving any additional comments concerning the issue.
“According to the international customs such decisions are not commented on,” Mariann Sudakov, press spokeswoman of the ministry of foreign affairs told Baltic Reports.
Vahur Made, deputy principal of the Estonian School of Diplomats told Kuku Radio Monday that while Russia’s step implies a political power play, will for revenge and unfriendly attitude, it is similar to previous incidents and not a cause for alarm.
Made said Russia’s reaction to send out Estonia’s Consul General in St.Petersburg was political theater, as Estonia has the right to determine foreign delegates.
“Any diplomatic representative must get an agreement, and Estonia has every right to turn back any diplomatic candidate,” said Made.
Typically tense
Kadri Liik, director of International Center for Defense Studies told Postimees that while Russia overreacted to the situation, but didn’t see anything unusual about the action taken.
Relations between the former Soviet republics has been frosty in recent years. Prime Minister Andrus Ansip rebuffed a handshake attempt from Prime Minister Vladimir Putin at Baltic Sea Action Summit last month.
Estonia has been the loudest critic of Russia’s Nord Stream project among the Baltic states, citing environmental concerns. Meanwhile the reaction to the April 2007 riots in response to the removal of Tallinn’s Bronze Soldier monument to Red Army soldiers in WWII continues to be a bone of contention between the two countries as well as between ethnic Russians living in Estonia and the ethnic Estonian majority.[/private_subscription 4 months] [private_subscription 1 year]St. Petersburg.
The dispute arose when Estonia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not allow the new Russian consul general in Narva to start work because, according to an unidentified source that spoke to the Postimees newspaper, he was a long-term employee of the GRU, the Russian Foreign Military Intelligence Directorate. His name has not been released.
At the meeting with Uspenski, the foreign ministry protested against Russia’s move, which the Russians said was justified as a response to the Estonia’s decision.
The Estonian foreign ministry is not giving any additional comments concerning the issue.
“According to the international customs such decisions are not commented on,” Mariann Sudakov, press spokeswoman of the ministry of foreign affairs told Baltic Reports.
Vahur Made, deputy principal of the Estonian School of Diplomats told Kuku Radio Monday that while Russia’s step implies a political power play, will for revenge and unfriendly attitude, it is similar to previous incidents and not a cause for alarm.
Made said Russia’s reaction to send out Estonia’s Consul General in St.Petersburg was political theater, as Estonia has the right to determine foreign delegates.
“Any diplomatic representative must get an agreement, and Estonia has every right to turn back any diplomatic candidate,” said Made.
Typically tense
Kadri Liik, director of International Center for Defense Studies told Postimees that while Russia overreacted to the situation, but didn’t see anything unusual about the action taken.
Relations between the former Soviet republics has been frosty in recent years. Prime Minister Andrus Ansip rebuffed a handshake attempt from Prime Minister Vladimir Putin at Baltic Sea Action Summit last month.
Estonia has been the loudest critic of Russia’s Nord Stream project among the Baltic states, citing environmental concerns. Meanwhile the reaction to the April 2007 riots in response to the removal of Tallinn’s Bronze Soldier monument to Red Army soldiers in WWII continues to be a bone of contention between the two countries as well as between ethnic Russians living in Estonia and the ethnic Estonian majority.[/private_subscription 1 year]
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