Estonia publicly removes a staff member from the Russian Embassy, claiming that their actions were working against the country's established system of government.
The Russian Embassy's First Secretary in Tallinn, Estonia, Dmitry Prilepin, has been expelled following allegations of undermining Estonia's constitutional order, aiding crimes against the state, and violating sanctions.
On August 13, 2020, the Estonian Foreign Ministry formally declared Prilepin persona non grata and expelled him for these alleged activities. The ministry highlighted his role in efforts to erode Estonia's legal order and supporting sanctions violations amid ongoing tensions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The allegations against Prilepin centre on subversion targeting Estonia's constitutional and legal framework, involvement in breaking international sanctions, and fomenting social discord. It was noted by Estonian officials that at least one Estonian citizen was convicted in connection with allegations linked to the Russian embassy employee, though specific links to Prilepin have not been confirmed publicly.
However, Estonian Minister Margus Tsakhkna did not disclose any new information about Prilepin's alleged actions during his public statement. He did not provide specific "accusations" or elaborate on the reasons for Prilepin's expulsion. The expulsion was not based on any specific "accusations" explicitly stated by Tsakhkna, nor were the reasons for Prilepin's expulsion directly linked to any specific "accusations" made by Tsakhkna.
Despite the lack of explicit details, the expulsion of Prilepin is part of Estonia's broader response to Russian interference in its internal affairs. Prilepin is suspected of participating in the commission of crimes against the Estonian republic, including contributing to the split of Estonian society.
References: [1] BBC News. (2020, August 14). Estonia expels Russian diplomat over 'interference'. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-53742477 [2] Reuters. (2020, August 13). Estonia expels Russian diplomat over 'interference'. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-estonian-russia-diplomat/estonian-foreign-ministry-expels-russian-diplomat-over-interference-idUSKCN25B26G
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