Russian Foreign Ministry dismisses Supo property fears as Russophobia
Russian Foreign Ministry press department head Maria Zakharova has accused the Finnish security and intelligence police Supo of Russophobia, following reports that the agency suspects its eastern neighbor of a land-buying programme for military purposes.
According to reports by Russian news sources Rambler News Service and Ekonomika segodna, the Russian Foreign Ministry has accused the Finnish security police Supo of Russophobia, or anti-Russian sentiment.
The reaction followed news reports earlier this week that Supo has speculated that Russia could use property it has purchased in Finland as accommodation for its military. Supo’s assessment was included in a report provided to Parliament’s Administration Committee in September.
“Frankly speaking I don’t understand how [people] can live in constant fear. It’s really approaching paranoia,” said the Russian Foreign Ministry’s information and press unit director Maria Zakharova.
The spokeswoman went on to describe the report as pure Russophobia.
“They don’t understand that the continuous intimidation of its own people will eventually lead to problems. At some stage the phobia will become a mania,” she added.
Supo and Defence Ministry reviewing land deals
Supo’s concerns are that property purchased in Finland could be used to accommodate soldiers from a foreign state in a crisis situation; or that access routes could be cut off if they are owned by foreign entities.
According to information obtained by Yle the Defence Ministry has reviewed the background of real estate deals involving non-Finns and ways to intervene. Chair of the Parliament’s Defence Committee Ilkka Kanerva said however that the Supo report did not mention Russia by name in that context.
However the report does refer to Russia’s “hybrid warfare” tactics in the prelude to the invasion and annexation of Crimea.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Canada’s defence review and the Arctic, Eye on the Arctic
Denmark: Nordics to step up security cooperation on perceived Russian threat, Yle News
Finland: Finland confirms 6th Russian airspace violation in just over a year, Yle News
Norway: Norway calls snap military drill in Arctic, after Russian announcement, The Independent Barents Observer
Russia: New Russian spy ship to keep tabs on Norway, Barents Observer
Sweden: Swedish prime minister plays down Russian threat as East-West tensions rise, Radio Sweden
United States: U.S. general says Alaska military cuts not final without Arctic plan, Alaska Public Radio Network
