The key facts

  • The Russian MFA summoned Latvia's Chargé d'Affaires Ramona Krasovska and expressed a resolute protest
  • Riga demands the dismissal of staff of the social security department at the consular section of the Russian embassy
  • Payments to nearly six thousand Russian military pensioners and their family members are at risk; Moscow cites the 1994 agreement

Summons of the Chargé d'Affaires and MFA Protest

Russia's Foreign Ministry summoned Latvia's Chargé d'Affaires Ramona Krasovska and expressed to her a resolute protest over the demands of the Latvian foreign ministry to dismiss all staff of the social security department at the consular section of the Russian embassy in Riga. This is stated in a statement by the Russian foreign ministry.

Risks for Pensioners

The MFA emphasized that the dismissal of the social security department staff of the diplomatic mission jeopardizes the pension and social security of nearly six thousand Russian military pensioners and their family members living in Latvia. Krasovska was notified that such actions contradict the country's obligations under the 1994 Russian-Latvian intergovernmental agreement on the social protection of Russian military pensioners and their family members.

Responsibility Lies with the Latvian Authorities

The ministry noted that Russia has always fulfilled its obligations to Russian military pensioners living in Latvia. 'All responsibility for the artificially created crisis with military pension payments lies entirely and completely with the Latvian authorities,' the MFA added.

Context

In February 2025, official spokesperson of the Russian MFA Maria Zakharova stated that Moscow continues to seek a solution to the problem of non-payment of Russian military pensions to residents of the Baltic states and regularly conveys its position to the authorities of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania.