On 23 April 2021, Latvia’s Foreign Minister, Edgars Rinkēvičs, took a decision to declare one diplomat of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Latvia to be a persona non grata.
The Minister’s decision has been made in solidarity with the Government of the Czech Republic taking into account illegal activities conducted by Russia’s intelligence services in the Czech Republic as well as evaluating the activities of the particular Russian Embassy diplomat and violations perpetrated in Latvia. The decision is also based on consultations taking place with EU and NATO allies, as well as information provided by Latvia’s competent institutions.
Latvia is interested in building a relationship with Russia on the basis of mutual respect, international law and the principles laid down in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Russia’s actions have borne evidence for an extended period of time of systemic violations of such principles and of undermining and destabilising the security situation.
The decision has been announced today to the Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Latvia, Vadim Vasilyev.