Russia's foreign ministry has said that protestors at the Embassy in Dublin "adopted tactics widely used by terrorists".
Russian officials have called on Ireland to apologise for an incident of criminal damage at the Russian Embassy in Dublin, and for taxpayers to foot the repair bill.
On Monday afternoon (7 March), a man was arrested after
driving a lorry carrying communion supplies into the gates of the Embassy, seemingly in protest at Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Shortly afterwards, the Russian Embassy accused Gardaí of standing "
idle" while the truck crashed through its gates.
“The Embassy strongly condemns this criminal act of insanity directed against peaceful diplomatic mission,” it said in a statement.
"The incident is cause of extreme concern. We believe that no people of sound mind could support such senseless and barbaric actions."
On Tuesday, Russian officials summoned the Irish ambassador to Russia, Brian McElduff, to formally apologise, noting that protestors at the Embassy in Dublin have "adopted tactics widely used by terrorists".
In a strongly-worded
statement, Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs "emphasised the inadmissibility of the frank inaction of law enforcement agencies in Ireland, when such actions are committed in the presence of policemen".
The ministry also declared the "urgent need" for the Irish government to take "comprehensive measures to eliminate security threats" to the Embassy, once more citing the Vienna Convention of 1961.
In addition to an apology from the leadership of Ireland, the ministry has demanded "full compensation for the damage caused" and for an "objective investigation" to punish the perpetrators involved.
Earlier on Tuesday, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar strongly
condemned the incident.
"It may be the case that the person behind it has strong feelings on this issue, but it was not helpful at all." he said.
Varadkar said that the Irish Government had obligations under the Vienna conventions to protect diplomats that live in Ireland.
"That will now be misrepresented in Russian state TV as Irish people being involved with violent acts against Russians, so it was a foolish and unhelpful act in that regard," Varadkar continued.
"I would say to anyone being involved in the protest, please do protest, we want you to do that, but peaceful protests.
"No violence, no criminal damage, and of course, the Gardaí and the Department of Foreign Affairs have been in contact with the Russian Embassy and are reviewing security to ensure something like that won't happen again."
On Monday, Ireland was named on an official Russian government list of countries it deems "
unfriendly" to Russia.
The countries and regions were highlighted for either imposing or endorsing sanctions levelled against Russia following its military invasion of Ukraine in February.
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