Russia's ambassador to Qatar, Vladimir Titorenko, who was injured by customs officials at Doha airport on November 29, has left Qatar.
"I left Qatar on Saturday," Titorenko told RIA Novosti over the phone. "I was met at the border by staff members from our embassy in Saudi Arabia, and they provided me with transportation to the UAE, where I will undergo treatment. I don't know yet when I will return. For that to happen, Qatar will have to at least apologize."
Russia plans to downgrade diplomatic relations with Qatar over the incident, which occurred at Doha airport, the Foreign Ministry said on its website on Monday.
Titorenko was injured as he attempted to prevent security and customs officials from x-raying his diplomatic pouch. Examination of the pouch was a violation of the 1961 Vienna Convention and a bilateral agreement between Russia and Qatar, the Foreign Ministry said.
The Russian Foreign Ministry protested the incident in a November 30 note to the authorities in Qatar that demanded “an immediate and full investigation into the incident, the strict punishment of the culprits and the prevention of similar incidents in the future.”
There has been no official response from Qatar so far.
