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Embassy of Russia, Dublin

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Coordinates: 53°18′11″N 6°15′38″W / 53.30301°N 6.26043°W / 53.30301; -6.26043
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Embassy of Russia in Ireland
Map
Address184-186 Orwell Road
Rathgar
Dublin 14
D14 X6R3
County Dublin
Coordinates53°18′11″N 6°15′38″W / 53.30301°N 6.26043°W / 53.30301; -6.26043
AmbassadorYuri Filatov
Websitehttps://ireland.mid.ru/

The Embassy of Russia in Dublin is the diplomatic mission of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Ireland.

Location

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The embassy is on a site that is 5.5 acres (2.2 ha) in size on Orwell Road.[1] The original house was about a century old in 2022.[1]

Present

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At the beginning of 2020 there were a total of 30 officers at the Embassy, 14 diplomats and 16 Administrative and Technical staff. [2] This made it among the most staffed Russian embassies, second only to the US. It was reduced to 21 officers (14 diplomats and 16 administrative and technical staff) following the invasion of Ukraine.[3]

History

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Soviet era

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In 1973 the government of the Republic of Ireland decided to open diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union despite the objections of then Defence Minister Paddy Donegan, who was concerned that many embassy staff could be spies.[4]

1983 expulsions

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In 1983 three Soviet diplomats were expelled from Ireland.[5] Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald asked Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs Jim O'Keeffe to tell the three diplomats - Guennadi Saline (First secretary of the Soviet Embassy in Dublin), Viktor Lipassov and his wife Evdokia - that they had to leave.[5] Speculation in Irish media at the time was that it was connected to the IRA, but years later it was revealed that it concerned attempts to gather information on United States military via a double agent met in the Stillorgan Shopping Center.[5]

Post Soviet era

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Planned expansion

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In 2015 planning permission had been granted by Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council to expand the Russian embassy.[1]

In March 2020 then Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy was summoned to a top secret meeting with senior defence and security officials.[1] Closer examination of the plans had caused concern and the government had recently passed legislation to allow blocking of planning permission on national security grounds.[1] On 4 March 2020 Eoghan Murphy signed an order to revoke part of the planning permission granted to the embassy.[1]

Allegations of intelligence gathering

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Irish security sources have stated that they believe the GRU and SVR operate out of the embassy.[6][7]

2022 invasion of Ukraine

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Main article: 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine

After the Russian government invaded Ukraine in February 2022, hundreds of people protested outside the embassy.[8]

On 7 March 2022 a truck was driven into the gates of the embassy.[9] A man was arrested.[9]

After Irish volunteer Finbar Cafferkey was killed fighting for Ukraine, expressions of sympathy from the Tánaiste Micheál Martin were criticised by the Russian embassy, which warned that Ireland could be considered a belligerent in the conflict for such statements. Foreign affairs chair Charles Flanagan condemned the embassy's comments, which he called "threatening, intimidating and chilling".[10]

2022 expulsions
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In March 2022 Micheál Martin announced that four senior officials of the embassy were to be expelled because "their activities are not in accordance with the international standards of diplomatic behaviour".[11] They would be considered persona non grata, have their credentials withdrawn and be given a set number of days to leave.[6] They were expelled under the 1961 Vienna Convention.[11] The Gardaí believed they were part of the GRU.[12] The ambassador was not one of those expelled.[12]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Byrne, Louise (2022-03-15). "Why a Russian embassy expansion alarmed the Irish Government". Prime Time, RTÉ News. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
  2. ^ Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (2023-04-27), "Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 April 2023", Official Engagements, Dáil Éireann, retrieved 2024-02-05
  3. ^ "Closing the Backdoor: Rediscovering Northern Ireland's Role in British National Security" (PDF), Policy Exchange, 2023-04-27, retrieved 2024-02-05
  4. ^ de Bréadún, Deaglán (2004-01-02). "Espionage fears as Soviet embassy opened in Dublin". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
  5. ^ a b c Mulhern, Robert (2017-09-26). "Skibbereen Eagle runs out Russians". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
  6. ^ a b Duffy, Rónán (2022-03-29). "Ireland to expel four senior officials from Russian Embassy". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 2022-12-25.
  7. ^ O'Connor, Niall (2022-02-26). "Russia Embassy site used as intelligence and communications base for European operations". Retrieved 2022-12-25.
  8. ^ Duffy, Rónán (2022-02-25). "'Shame! Shame! Shame!': Hundreds block road at large protest at Russian Embassy in Dublin". Retrieved 2022-06-12.
  9. ^ a b Fletcher, Laura (2022-03-07). "Man arrested as truck driven into Russian embassy gates". RTÉ News. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
  10. ^ Pope, Conor (2023-04-28). "Russian statement on Finbar Cafferkey death condemned as 'threatening' and 'chilling'". Irish Times. Retrieved 2023-04-29.
  11. ^ a b Burns, Sarah; Gallagher, Conor; Pope, Conor (2022-03-29). "Four senior Russian diplomats expelled from State following 'security advice'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2022-12-25.
  12. ^ a b Ryan, Philip; Molony, Senan (2022-03-30). "Four Russian diplomats expelled from State were suspected of being undercover military officers". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2022-12-25.
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