MOSCOW, October 5. /TASS/. Russia is expelling Lithuanian Charge d'Affaires Virginia Umbrasene in retailation, the diplomat has been ordered to leave the Russian territory within five days, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry’s statement issued on Wednesday.
"On October 5, a representative of the Lithuanian Embassy was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry. She was handed a note informing that in response to the unjustified explulsion of the Russian charge d'affaires in the Lithuanian Republic [Sergey Ryabokon], the Lithuanian charge d'affaires in Russia, Virginia Umbrasene, is declared persona non grata. She is ordered to leave the territory of our country within five days," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
In addition, Russia, given the hostile policy of Lithuania aimed at the collapse of humanitarian relations, freezes the activities of the cultural center of the Lithuanian diplomatic mission in Moscow: the House of Baltrusaitis.
The Russian Foreign Ministry stressed that, depending on other unfriendly steps taken by Vilnius, Moscow reserves the right to take "additional measures of influence."
On Monday, the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry reported that Sergey Ryabokon, Russian Charge d'Affaires in Lithuania, was declared persona non grata. As the Foreign Ministry noted, this decision was taken in the light of the information received by the authorities, who concluded that the recent activities and statements of the Charge d'Affaires allegedly "are incompatible with his diplomatic status and are treated as interference in the affairs of the receiving party," that is, Lithuania. The diplomat was ordered to leave the country within five days.