OREANDA-NEWS  Russia is lowering the level of diplomatic relations with Estonia in response to the reduction in the size of the Russian embassy in Tallinn. Estonian Ambassador Margus Laidre was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry today. He was ordered to leave the Russian Federation on February 7, 2023. "As a retaliatory measure, the Russian side decided to lower the level of the diplomatic representative in both countries to the charge d'affaires," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

The ministry noted that the Estonian leadership has been "purposefully destroying the entire complex of relations with Russia in recent years." "Total Russophobia and the cultivation of hostility towards our country have been elevated by Tallinn to the rank of state policy," the Russian Foreign Ministry stressed.

On January 20, the Russian Embassy in Tallinn reported that Estonia strongly hinders consular services for Russian citizens living in the country. Earlier, the Russian Embassy in Estonia temporarily stopped accepting applications for renunciation of citizenship. Two weeks ago, the Estonian authorities demanded that Russia halve the embassy staff "in order to achieve parity or equivalence in the number of posts."

In October, Estonia, following Lithuania and Latvia, recognized Russia as a sponsor of terrorism. The Estonian Parliament called for the recognition of the armed forces of the LPR, the DPR and the Wagner PMCs as terrorist organizations.

On January 23, Estonia announced the largest delivery of military aid to Ukraine. It includes all the 155-mm howitzers available in the country. Earlier, Tallinn supplied Kiev with Javelin anti-tank missile systems, howitzers, anti-tank grenade launchers and mortars.