Support The Moscow Times!

Russia Says Will 'Respond' After Iceland Embassy Closure

The Icelandic embassy in Moscow. Alexey PAVLOVSKY / AFP

Russia on Saturday said it would "respond" after Iceland became the first country to suspend its embassy operations in Moscow.

"All of Reykjavik's anti-Russian actions will inevitably prompt a response," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement, accusing Iceland of "ruining" relations between the two countries.

"We will take this unfriendly decision into account when we establish our relations with Iceland in the future," the ministry added.

Iceland on Friday said it would suspend work at its embassy in Moscow as of August 1 and asked Russia to limit its operations in Reykjavik.

"The current situation simply does not make it viable for the small foreign service of Iceland to operate an embassy in Russia," Foreign Minister Thordis Gylfadottir said.

In a symbolic move, staff could be seen taking down the Icelandic flag hanging from the side of the embassy in Moscow on Friday.

The Icelandic foreign ministry stressed that the decision "does not constitute a severance of diplomatic relations."

But since commercial, cultural and political ties with Russia were "at an all-time low," maintaining embassy operations in Moscow was "no longer justifiable," it said.

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue

Read more