Icelandic embassy suspends operations in Moscow
Iceland suspended its embassy operations in Moscow on Tuesday, but said it will reevaluate the situation once it is able.
“The decision to suspend the operations of the Embassy of Iceland in Moscow does not constitute a severance of diplomatic relations,” Iceland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
“As soon as conditions permit, Iceland will prioritize the resumption of operations of the Embassy of Iceland in Moscow.”
Reykjavik first announced its intention to close the Icelandic embassy in Moscow back in June.
Chilling of commercial, cultural and political links
At the time, the Foreign Ministry said the chilling of commercial, cultural and political links with Russia since its invasion of Ukraine, meant Iceland could no longer justify keeping embassy services running.
In addition to Russia, Iceland’s Moscow embassy also represented the country’s interests in Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
All services previously handled by Iceland’s embassy in Moscow, will now be taken care of by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Reykjavik.
Iceland has run its embassy in Moscow since 1944, with only one previous break from 1951-1953 when there was no trade between Iceland and the Soviet Union.
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