Estonia expels Russian diplomat over alleged subversion, sanctions violations

On August 13, the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs formally declared Daniil Prilepin, First Secretary at the Russian Embassy in Tallinn, persona non grata, mandating his immediate departure from the country.

The decision was conveyed to the Russian acting chargé d'affaires alongside an official diplomatic note, Caliber.Az reports, citing Estonian media.

According to the Ministry, Prilepin was directly and actively engaged in efforts to undermine Estonia’s constitutional framework and legal system. He was accused of fostering societal divisions and participating in actions deemed criminal against the state, including violations of international sanctions imposed on Russia.

Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna condemned the ongoing interference by the Russian diplomatic mission in Estonia’s internal affairs, stressing that such behavior is unacceptable and must cease immediately. “The expulsion sends a clear message: there will be no place in our country for coordinated and organized actions of a foreign state,” Tsahkna asserted, signaling Estonia’s firm stance against covert foreign meddling.

The Ministry emphasized that the expulsion complies with Article 9 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which empowers a host country to declare diplomats persona non grata without obligation to provide justification.

By Vafa Guliyeva