India has taken strong objection to the defacement of its Embassy premises in Ljubljana, Slovenia, which it says is unacceptable and expects the Slovenian authorities to act promptly to deal with those responsible for it. India’s Ministry of External Affairs said it was an issue of “anti-India elements” and added that diplomatic premises had a special protection under international law.
India’s diplomatic reaction has put the issue of embassy defacement in India-Slovenia relations in limelight because this is more than damage done to a property. For India, the security and inviolability of a diplomatic mission is an issue that comes under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
The Indian Embassy in Ljubljana was reportedly defaced by individuals described by the MEA as anti-India elements. India condemned the act and called upon Slovenian authorities to identify those responsible and take appropriate action.
The incident has also attracted attention because Indian diplomatic missions abroad are expected to remain protected from acts that interfere with their functioning or compromise their security.
While reports have linked the incident to pro-Khalistan elements, the MEA’s own statement described the perpetrators more generally as “anti-India elements.”
The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations provides the legal code for diplomatic missions and how they are treated in the host nation.
Inviolability of the premises of the mission is one of its key tenets. Practically speaking, the host country is required to take all necessary steps to ensure that the embassy is not subjected to interference, damage, disturbance of its peace or of its dignity.
This is the reason why the Indian reaction was based not just on the defacement of its premises but also on the obligations of Slovenia as the host nation.
It was made clear that diplomatic premises cannot be violated by Slovenian authorities.
In short, India’s immediate response has been a call to have the Slovenian authorities look into the matter and punish those responsible for the attack.
The language used in the statement made by MEA is important as it puts the blame on the host country for the safety of its diplomatic missions.
Additionally, India has capitalized on this attack to express its dissatisfaction regarding hate propaganda and misinformation being spread by organizations which are hostile towards India.
An embassy is not regarded as a regular private property under international laws.
The diplomatic missions are supposed to be the representation of the one state in another state. The missions offer consular activities, engage diplomatically, help the citizens and establish bilateral ties.
As a result, any action committed against the embassy immediately turns into a diplomatic issue.