HELSINKI: Finland has announced its decision to withdraw consent for Russia to operate its consulate general in Turku, southwestern Finland, starting from October 1. The move comes as a response to Russia’s previous announcement of closing Finland’s consulate general in St Petersburg, according to a statement from the prime minister’s office.
President Sauli Niinisto and the Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy made the decision following Russia’s retaliatory action of closing Finland’s consulate general. Russia’s announcement on July 6 was in response to Finland expelling nine Russian diplomats in June, which Finland stated were involved in intelligence activities.
Diplomatic Relations Between Finland and Russia
President Niinisto highlighted the reciprocal nature of the consulates, with Russia’s consulate in Turku being the counterpart to Finland’s consulate in St Petersburg. In a statement on Wednesday, the president and the committee characterized Russia’s countermove as “an asymmetric response.”
The status of Russia’s consulate in Mariehamn on the island of Aland is also under discussion, according to the statement.
The tit-for-tat closure of consulates further escalates tensions between Finland and Russia, highlighting the strained diplomatic relations between the two countries.
