On 23 January 2023, the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Latvia, Mikhail Vanin, was invited to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia. The Ambassador of Russia was notified of the decision of the Latvian side to lower the level of its diplomatic representation in Russia to that of chargé d’affaires, effective 24 February.
The decision has been taken in view of the fact that Russia continues its full-scale military aggression against Ukraine launched on 24 February 2022, as well as in solidarity with Estonia and Lithuania.
The Ambassador of Russia shall leave Latvia by 24 February 2023. Likewise, the Ambassador of the Republic of Latvia to Russia is leaving Russia by 24 February.