Estonia expels 36 employees of Russian embassy over past year - Estonian security service

TALLINN. April 12 (Interfax) - Estonia has expelled 36 employees of the Russian embassy over slightly more than a year, the Estonian Internal Security Service said.

"A total of 36 employees of the Russian embassy have had to leave Estonia [since February 24, 2022]. As of February 2023, the embassies of Russia and Estonia had the same number of employees, while the level of diplomatic representation was downgraded and deputy chiefs of mission took charge," the service said in its yearbook published on Wednesday.

"The expulsions and the parity policy have significantly limited access of Russia and its intelligence to information and hindered intelligence and influence operations," it said.

Moscow gave a symmetric response to the expulsion of its diplomats by expelling Estonian embassy employees.