Iceland has complied with the decision taken at the beginning of June to suspend diplomatic activity in Moscow and has become the first European country to close its embassy in Russia.
On the 1st of August, Iceland completely halted embassy work in Moscow. Diplomatic relations with Russia are said to have reached a historically low point, and there is no longer any basis for maintaining an embassy in the aggressor country.
However, the statement of the Foreign Ministry of Iceland said: “The decision to suspend the work of the Icelandic embassy in Moscow does not mean a complete severance of diplomatic ties. If conditions allow, Iceland will restore the work of the embassy as a matter of priority.”
The decision to close the embassy was made on the 9th of June.
The Russian government then announced that such a decision would inevitably have consequences.
Moscow, Russia ❗The Icelandic embassy in Moscow is closed from today. ??The flag was removed from the flagpole, the signboards were dismantled, the staff of the diplomatic mission removed things on Sunday. Earlier, the Icelandic authorities said that relations with Russia were… pic.twitter.com/uy2rAkeYWD
— LX (@LXSummer1) August 1, 2023
On the 1st of August, Iceland also reported that it will expand its diplomatic presence in Ukraine, and diplomats in Kyiv will use the premises of the Lithuanian embassy. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iceland stated that the Lithuanians are one of the closest allies of the Ukrainians, and Icelanders will have a great honor to work together with the diplomats of the Baltic state. The ministry also emphasized that strengthening relations with Ukraine is expected.
The Embassy of Iceland in Moscow also handled requests from Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Now all diplomatic tasks have been taken over by the Foreign Ministry of Iceland in Reykjavík.
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