Andorra’s Government says it has no knowledge of any Russian request to open an embassy

Andorra’s Government says it has not received any request from Moscow to open a Russian embassy in the Principality, following reports that Russia was considering upgrading its diplomatic representation in Andorra. The clarification was reported by El Periódico in an article published on Wednesday by journalist Marc Marginedas.

According to the Catalan newspaper, the Andorran Government’s Communications Office said in an email sent on Tuesday that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has no knowledge of any such request to open an embassy of the Russian Federation in Andorra.

The Executive has not, however, disclosed what its response would be if Moscow were to formally submit a request in the future.

Any embassy would require Andorra’s consent

El Periódico points out that Russia could not establish an embassy in Andorra unilaterally. Under Article 2 of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, the establishment of diplomatic relations and permanent diplomatic missions requires the mutual consent of the states concerned.

Any decision by Moscow to upgrade its diplomatic presence in the Principality would therefore require the approval of the Andorran authorities.

Russia currently maintains an honorary consulate in Andorra, headed by honorary consul Narcís Socías Tomàs, while its embassy in Spain is responsible for diplomatic relations with the Principality. The Russian consulate itself currently lists Socías as honorary consul and identifies the Russian Embassy in Spain as the competent diplomatic mission.

Relations between Andorra and Moscow remain strained

The possibility of a Russian embassy has attracted attention given the difficult state of relations between Andorra and Moscow since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Andorra has aligned itself with European sanctions against Russia, a position that has been publicly criticised by Russian Ambassador to Spain Yuri Klimenko.

Klimenko has argued that relations deteriorated after Andorra abandoned what he described as its traditional neutrality by joining the sanctions adopted by the European Union against Moscow.

Andorra has also publicly expressed its solidarity with Ukraine and backed European sanctions against Russia.

Moscow seeks closer ties with Andorra

Despite the tensions, Russia appears interested in strengthening its links with the Principality. One of the proposals put forward by Klimenko has been a possible rapprochement between Andorra and the BRICS, the international grouping originally formed by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa and later expanded to include additional members.

The Russian ambassador has argued that BRICS can provide members and partner countries with independent financial channels capable of protecting them from external pressure, in an apparent reference to the European Union.

For Andorra, such an approach would have particular geopolitical significance given its location between France and Spain, both EU member states, and its close economic and institutional links with the European bloc.

Russia’s diplomatic presence remains limited

For the time being, however, there is no confirmation of any formal Russian request to establish an embassy in Andorra.

The Russian diplomatic presence in the Principality remains centred on its honorary consulate, which continues to maintain institutional contacts with Russian diplomatic authorities. The consulate recently published an interview with Ambassador Yuri Klimenko addressing the state of relations between Russia and Andorra.

The Andorran Government’s position, as reported by El Periódico, is therefore clear: Moscow has not formally asked Andorra to open an embassy, although the possibility could become a matter for discussion if Russia were to submit an official request.