The expulsion of Estonia's St. Petersburg consul was a counteraction by the Russian authorities to actions taken earlier by the authorities of Estonia, Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet told BNS on Thursday.
Formin: Consul's expulsion was move in response to Estonian action
18th April 2013, 17:00
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Paet confirmed that the consul, Franek Persidski, was in Estonia.
Authorities in Russia announced on Wednesday they had expelled the Estonian consul in St. Petersburg.
Russian authorities said Persidski did not conceal the fact that he was working for the Estonian security police under diplomatic cover and claimed that according to different versions he held a rank of major or captain with the security police, Delfi said.
Russia's Interfax news agency said on Wednesday they were unable to obtain comment from Russian authorities about the expulsion.
Media have expressed suspicion that the reason for Persidski's expulsion was Estonia's refusal in mid-March to issue entry visas to five young Russians who were planning to take part in the Baltic Dialogue 2013 roundtable in Tallinn, sponsored by the Gorchakov Foundation for Public Diplomacy.
The same version was upheld by Russia's RIA Novosti news agency.
Franek Persidski served as spokesman for the Estonian embassy in Moscow during the so-called Bronze Nights events of 2007.