Lithuania lodges protest with Russia over threats against diplomatic missions in Kyiv

On Friday, May 8, Lithuania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a strong protest to a summoned representative of the Russian Embassy over threats directed at the diplomatic missions of Lithuania and other countries in Kyiv.

According to Ukrinform, this was reported by LRT.

The representative of the Russian Embassy was handed a protest note in which Lithuania strongly condemned the Russian Foreign Ministry's "warning" to foreign states about evacuating diplomatic and other personnel, as well as citizens, from Kyiv due to planned attacks by the Russian armed forces.

The note emphasized that Russia's statements are regarded as a direct, cynical, and unprecedented threat to use force against the embassies of foreign states and the residents of Kyiv.

"Russia's ongoing aggression against Ukraine, as well as such public statements, clearly violate the prohibition on the threat of force established in Article 2(4) of the UN Charter and other universally recognized principles of international law," Lithuania's Foreign Ministry stated.

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The Russian Embassy representative was told that through such statements Russia is effectively acknowledging plans by its armed forces to endanger internationally protected persons, diplomats, civilians, and infrastructure, while continuing to commit grave international crimes in Ukraine.

In addition, the Russian diplomatic representative in Lithuania was reminded that under international humanitarian law, a military attack known to cause incidental civilian deaths or injuries and damage to civilian objects constitutes a serious violation and qualifies as a war crime.

Lithuania's Foreign Ministry stressed that Vilnius views the Russian Foreign Ministry's note not only as direct evidence of ongoing aggression and war crimes, but also as a sign of blatant disregard for international law.

Lithuania categorically rejected these threats and demanded that Russia immediately and unconditionally cease its aggression against Ukraine, withdraw occupying troops from the entire internationally recognized territory of the country, and compensate for the damage caused.

The Lithuanian Embassy in Kyiv continues its operations, with staff adhering to standard security requirements, the report said.

As Ukrinform reported, European Commission spokesperson Anouar El Anouni stated that the European Union will not reconsider its diplomatic presence in Ukraine's capital despite Russian threats regarding possible massive missile strikes on Kyiv.

Photo: Denis Mirgorod, google.com/maps