Icelandic Foreign Minister Thordis Gilfadouttir announced the suspension of the work of the Icelandic embassy in Moscow from August 1.
The Russian ambassador has already been informed about the situation. The Icelandic authorities also asked Russia to limit the activities of its embassy in Reykjavik and reduce the level of diplomatic representation.
“This is not an easy decision, as Iceland has actively maintained relations with the people of Russia since independence in 1944. However, the current situation simply does not allow Iceland's small diplomatic service to have an embassy in Russia. I hope that the conditions will someday allow us to have normal and fruitful relations with Russia, but it depends on the decisions that the Kremlin makes,” the country’s foreign minister said in a statement posted on the Foreign Ministry’s website.
The report also notes that the decision is not a severance of diplomatic relations: "As soon as circumstances permit, Iceland will prioritize the reopening of the Icelandic embassy in Moscow."
