Latvia voices strong protest to Russia over Shahed drone crash on its territory
Photo: Latvia has voiced a categorical protest to Russia over the downing of the Shahed on its territory (Getty Images)
On September 9, the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Charge d'Affaires of Russia. He was given a categorical protest over the Russian drone discovered in the eastern part of the country, according to the press service of the Latvian Foreign Ministry.
"The Charge d’Affaires a.i. of the Embassy of the Russian Federation was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia to express to him a categorical protest from Latvia in relation to a Shahed unmanned aerial vehicle of military importance of the Russian Federation found in the Rēzekne Municipality," the Ministry states.
According to the Ministry, the Russian Charge d'Affaires was asked to provide a full explanation of the incident, in which the drone illegally violated Latvian airspace and was equipped with explosives.
In turn, the Russian representative assured the Latvian side that he would inform the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the situation.
"The responsible Latvian authorities continue with an in-depth investigation into the circumstances of the incident. Latvia has informed its allies, the leadership of NATO and the EU, as well as, through diplomatic channels, its counterparts in the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of other countries about the situation," the Ministry emphasized.
What happened before
Yesterday, on September 8, Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs said that a Russian military drone had crashed in the eastern part of his country. An investigation was launched in Latvia.
Later, it became known that the Russian drone that crashed in Latvia was most likely a Shahed. It was carrying explosives.
