Home > Russia downgrades ties with Qatar
Moscow has downgraded diplomatic relations with Qatar after an airport attack on its ambassador to Doha, the Russian Foreign Ministry says.
Russian Ambassador to Qatar Vladimir Titorenko was attacked by security forces and customs officers at the Doha International Airport on November 29.
"As a result of their aggressive behavior, the Qatari side’s actions damaged the ambassador’s health," quoted the Russian Foreign Ministry as saying on Monday.
The ministry statement said Moscow’s ambassador to Doha "was attacked by security and customs personnel" who were trying to take away his diplomatic bag.
The ambassador and two diplomats meeting him on arrival were injured.
Russia demands an official apology from the Arab state as well as to have the Qatari officers involved in the incident punished in order to prevent such incidents in the future.
On December 4, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had a telephone conversation with Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani, prime minister and foreign minister of Qatar, informing him about the decision to downgrade relations with Qatar.
Ambassador Titorenko will leave Qatar after treatment for his injuries.