The diplomatic relations between Russia and Estonia were downgraded on Monday after the latter's ambassador was ordered to leave Russia, as the country was accused of "total Russophobia".

As the Estonian ambassador was expelled, the Russian foreign ministry announced on Monday that the charge d’affaires will head the diplomatic mission of the country.&nbsp;

"The ambassador of the Estonian Republic will have to leave the Russian Federation on February 7," the foreign ministry said in a statement, adding that the diplomatic representation of Estonia will also be downgraded from now.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-war-russia-pushing-towards-two-towns-in-zaporizhzhia-region-554976">Ukraine war: Russia pushing towards two towns in Zaporizhzhia region</a>

According to the statement, the measure was adopted after the staff levels were reduced by Estonia at the Russian embassy in Tallinn.

The ministry added that the step was taken in retaliation for Estonia’s “new unfriendly step to radically reduce the size of the Russian Embassy in Tallinn.”

“In recent years, the Estonian leadership has purposefully destroyed the entire range of relations with Russia. Total Russophobia, the cultivation of hostility towards our country have been elevated by Tallinn to the rank of state policy,” read the statement issued by the Russian foreign ministry on Monday.&nbsp;

Earlier this month, the Estonian foreign ministry asked Russia to cut down the number of staff present in the embassy to eight diplomats and 15 technical, service and administrative staff members to “reach parity in embassy staff” by February 1.

WATCH |&nbsp;WION Fineprint: Russia and Belarus hold joint military drill

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On January 11, Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu, in a statement, said that Estonia's bilateral ties with Moscow have been reduced “to the absolute minimum” since Russia sent its troops to capture Ukrainian regions.&nbsp;

“Now we are setting a limit to the number of Russian diplomats working in Estonia in order to achieve parity. Today’s step is in correlation with the low point of our relations in general,” the minister said.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The diplomatic relations between Russia and Estonia were downgraded on Monday after the latter's ambassador was ordered to leave Russia, as the country was accused of "total Russophobia".

The diplomatic relations between Russia and Estonia were downgraded on Monday after the latter's ambassador was ordered to leave Russia, as the country was accused of "total Russophobia". As the Estonian ambassador was expelled, the Russian foreign ministry announced on Monday that the charge d’affaires will head the diplomatic mission of the country. "The ambassador of the Estonian Republic will have to leave the Russian Federation on February 7," the foreign ministry said in a statement, adding that the diplomatic representation of Estonia will also be downgraded from now. ALSO READ | Ukraine war: Russia pushing towards two towns in Zaporizhzhia region According to the statement, the measure was adopted after the staff levels were reduced by Estonia at the Russian embassy in Tallinn. The ministry added that the step was taken in retaliation for Estonia’s “new unfriendly step to radically reduce the size of the Russian Embassy in Tallinn.” “In recent years, the Estonian leadership has purposefully destroyed the entire range of relations with Russia. Total Russophobia, the cultivation of hostility towards our country have been elevated by Tallinn to the rank of state policy,” read the statement issued by the Russian foreign ministry on Monday. Earlier this month, the Estonian foreign ministry asked Russia to cut down the number of staff present in the embassy to eight diplomats and 15 technical, service and administrative staff members to “reach parity in embassy staff” by February 1. WATCH | WION Fineprint: Russia and Belarus hold joint military drill On January 11, Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu, in a statement, said that Estonia's bilateral ties with Moscow have been reduced “to the absolute minimum” since Russia sent its troops to capture Ukrainian regions. “Now we are setting a limit to the number of Russian diplomats working in Estonia in order to achieve parity. Today’s step is in correlation with the low point of our relations in general,” the minister said. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Russia orders Estonia's ambassador to leave, accuses country of 'total Russophobia'

The case against two filmmakers charged with disturbing the wreck of the ferry Estonia, which sank in 1994 with the loss of 852 lives, was dismissed on Monday by a Swedish court as their vessel was not covered by the law protecting the gravesite. 
 
The men were part of a Discovery Network documentary team that sent a remote-operated vehicle to film the wreck in the Baltic Sea in 2019, discovering previously unknown damage to the hull and reviving speculation about the cause of the disaster. 
 
The Gothenburg court dismissed the charges of disturbing a marine grave against the two Swedish citizens because the law which protects Estonia did not apply to foreign-registered vessels in international waters. 
 
The vessel they were using was German-flagged. 
 
The roll-on roll-off ferry, carrying 803 passengers and 186 crew, sank on a stormy night on Sept. 28, 1994. The official investigation in 1997 concluded that the bow shield had failed, damaging the bow ramp and flooding the car deck. 
 
As a result of the findings by the film-makers, Sweden said last month it would change the law protecting the Estonia as a grave site to allow a new inspection of the wreck by the authorities. 
 
Over the years, a number of theories have emerged about the sinking that reject the official explanation, including a collision with a submarine and an explosion inside the ship. 
 
The head of Sweden`s Accident Investigation Authority, John Ahlberk, however, has said a preliminary examination of footage from the documentary and previous material had not so far led it to conclude that the 1997 official report had been wrong. 
 
The official investigation pointed to the strong winds and high waves on the night Estonia sank on its way from Tallinn to Stockholm. After the bow shield failed, the ferry rapidly filled with water and most of those who died were trapped inside. 
 
 
 
 
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The case against two filmmakers charged with disturbing the wreck of the ferry Estonia, which sank in 1994 with the loss of 852 lives, was dismissed on Monday by a Swedish court as their vessel was not covered by the law protecting the gravesite.

The case against two filmmakers charged with disturbing the wreck of the ferry Estonia, which sank in 1994 with the loss of 852 lives, was dismissed on Monday by a Swedish court as their vessel was not covered by the law protecting the gravesite. The men were part of a Discovery Network documentary team that sent a remote-operated vehicle to film the wreck in the Baltic Sea in 2019, discovering previously unknown damage to the hull and reviving speculation about the cause of the disaster. The Gothenburg court dismissed the charges of disturbing a marine grave against the two Swedish citizens because the law which protects Estonia did not apply to foreign-registered vessels in international waters. The vessel they were using was German-flagged. The roll-on roll-off ferry, carrying 803 passengers and 186 crew, sank on a stormy night on Sept. 28, 1994. The official investigation in 1997 concluded that the bow shield had failed, damaging the bow ramp and flooding the car deck. As a result of the findings by the film-makers, Sweden said last month it would change the law protecting the Estonia as a grave site to allow a new inspection of the wreck by the authorities. Over the years, a number of theories have emerged about the sinking that reject the official explanation, including a collision with a submarine and an explosion inside the ship. The head of Sweden`s Accident Investigation Authority, John Ahlberk, however, has said a preliminary examination of footage from the documentary and previous material had not so far led it to conclude that the 1997 official report had been wrong. The official investigation pointed to the strong winds and high waves on the night Estonia sank on its way from Tallinn to Stockholm. After the bow shield failed, the ferry rapidly filled with water and most of those who died were trapped inside.

Case against film team accused of disturbing wreck of ferry Estonia dismissed

The new president of the United Nations Security Council Estonia has called for more transparency and information on COVID crisis even as the country has sought cooperation among members of the core UN body. Speaking exclusively to our diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal Estonia's envoy to India Katrin Kivi this kind of threats can't stop on the state border. Estonia had presented COVID draft in March but due to lack of consensus among permanent UNSC members, it was not adopted. In another major development, the country has invited India to be part of some UNSC meets for the month of May. On Kashmir, she said, UNSC should be seized of other mater and no one should bring the bilateral issue on the table of the body.

WION Exclusive: Estonian envoy to India speaks with WION

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Russia orders Estonia's ambassador to leave, accuses country of 'total Russophobia'

Case against film team accused of disturbing wreck of ferry Estonia dismissed

WION Exclusive: Estonian envoy to India speaks with WION