Russia has declared all employees of the embassies of Baltic countries, among which are Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, personae non gratae, APA reports citing Sputnik.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that it had summoned the ambassadors of Latvia and Estonia, along with Lithuania's charge d'affaires, handing them notes of protest in connection with the "unfriendly actions" of these countries.

"On April 21, Ambassador of Latvia [Maris] Riekstins, Ambassador of Estonia [Margus] Laidre and Charge d'Affaires of Lithuania [Virginija] Umbrasiene were summoned to the Russian foreign ministry. The heads of the diplomatic missions have been strongly protested in connection with unfriendly actions to close the Russian Consulates General in Klaipeda, Liepaja, Daugavpils, Narva and the chancellery of the consular department of the Russian Embassy in Estonia (Tartu)," the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry also announced that the consulates of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia in St. Petersburg, along with the consulate of Latvia in Pskov, will be closed.

https://apa.az/en/cis-countries/russia-closes-baltic-consulates-expels-employees-374098