Estonia expels Russian diplomat for subversive activities

Estonia on Wednesday expelled a Russian diplomat for activities connected to "undermining the constitutional order and legal system of Estonia" and "dividing Estonian society," the Estonian Foreign Ministry said, Report informs, citing ERR News.

The ministry summoned the chargé d'affaires of the Russian embassy to present a diplomatic note on declaring the first secretary of the Russian embassy's staff persona non grata.

The diplomat must leave Estonia.

When presenting the note, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Estonia will not tolerate "Russia's activities against our constitutional order and internal stability, and considers it necessary to express this very clearly."

The minister said Estonia will also inform its partners and allies of the incident.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna (Eesti 200) said: "The diplomat in question has been directly and actively involved in undermining the constitutional order and legal system of Estonia, as well as in dividing Estonian society, contributing to the crimes against the state, including several offences related to sanctions violations. At present, one citizen of the Republic of Estonia has been convicted for carrying out these crimes. The Russian embassy's ongoing interference in the internal affairs of the Republic of Estonia must end and by expelling the diplomat, we are demonstrating that Estonia will not allow any actions orchestrated and organized by a foreign state on its territory.