Russia expels Estonian diplomat in tit-for-tat response

Russia is expelling an Estonian diplomat from Moscow as a reciprocal measure, Report informs, citing a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry released on September 4.

According to the ministry, Estonia's chargé d'affaires in Russia, Marek Juhtegi, was summoned and handed a strong protest following Tallinn's decision to declare a Russian diplomat persona non grata.

"Based on the principle of reciprocity, the Russian side announced the expulsion of a diplomatic staff member of the Estonian Embassy in Moscow," the statement reads.

The Russian Foreign Ministry also warned that any hostile actions by Tallinn will not go unanswered.

This follows Estonia's August 13 announcement that it was expelling the first secretary of the Russian Embassy for allegedly "undermining the constitutional order and legal system" of Estonia. At the time, the Estonian Foreign Ministry also urged Russia to stop interfering in the country's internal affairs.