Russia blames Baltic nations for severing of most ties

The “hostile line” of the Baltic countries have led to the severance of most of their ties with Russia, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in remarks published yesterday, warning also that Moscow will respond with asymmetric measures.

“Because of the openly hostile line of Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn, all interstate, interdepartmental, regional and sectoral ties with Russia have been severed,” Maria Zakharova, the spokeswoman of the Russian Foreign Ministry told the RIA state news agency, referring to the capitals of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

She added that Moscow would continue to use diplomatic measures of influence on the Baltic countries.

Estonia last week accused Russia of violating international airspace regulations by interfering with GPS signals and the Baltic countries are among those that are “deeply concerned” about activities they called Russian espionage, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation said last week.

Zakharova, without specifying what steps taken by the Baltic countries she was referring to, told RIA that Moscow will respond to the hostile actions by Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, with asymmetric measures.

“We will also respond to the hostile actions of the Baltic states with asymmetrical measures, primarily in the economic and transit spheres.”