Estonian Foreign Ministry summons Russian diplomat over maritime border violation

The Estonian Foreign Ministry has summoned the Russian chargé d'affaires in Estonia, Lenar Salimullin, to lodge a formal protest following a reported violation of Estonia’s maritime border by a Russian border guard vessel.

According to the Estonian authorities, the incident took place on July 26 near the island of Vaindloo in the Gulf of Finland, where a Russian border patrol ship allegedly entered Estonia’s territorial waters without authorization, Caliber.Az reports, citing an official statement by the ministry.

The ministry delivered a diplomatic note to Salimullin in protest of what it described as a clear breach of Estonia’s sovereignty.

“The violation of Estonia’s maritime border by Russia is a serious and unacceptable incident. This message was also conveyed to the chargé d’affaires of the Russian Federation,” Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said.

By Vafa Guliyeva