TALLINN, April 18 (RIA Novosti) – Estonian consul in St. Petersburg Franek Persidski has been declared by Russian authorities persona non grata in response to a similar action previously taken by Estonia, the Estonian Foreign Ministry said.
"Persidski has returned from St. Petersburg consulate to Estonia," the ministry’s press service of the told RIA Novosti on Wednesday.
"This was a reciprocal move by the Russian side in response to a similar decision of Estonian authorities taken earlier," the press service said without providing details of the Estonian action.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has not yet commented on the decision to expel the Estonian diplomat.
Some Russian-language media sources in Estonia earlier speculated that it could have been done in retaliation for Estonia’s denial to issue entry visas to five members of a Russian delegation traveling to Tallinn to take part in the Baltic Dialogue 2013 roundtable in March.
