Finland expels nine Russian diplomats
The nine diplomats are working for Russian intelligence, according to a statement from the President of Finland.
“Their actions are contrary to the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations,” according to the statement which was published shortly after Finnish President Sauli Niinisto had his meeting with the Government’s Foreign and Security Ministerial Committee on Tuesday.
The meeting discussed the current security situation in Europe amid Russia’s ongoing war on Ukraine and the explosion of the Kahovka dam Tuesday.
Finland’s Foreign Ministry will inform the Russian Ambassador to Helsinki about the names of the nine people to be expelled.
Neither the President’s Office nor the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have elaborated on which intelligence activities the nine Embassy employees are accused of in Finland.
Relations between Helsinki and Moscow are at a deep low, with diplomatic turmoil escalating. Last week, Russia revoke Finland’s permission to have a Consulate General in Petrozavodsk and a consulate office in Murmansk. Both diplomatic missions had kept the doors closed for a while when the formal decision came.
Not happy with NATO, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement: “Responsibility for the current situation lies entirely with the Finnish side.”
Finland became a member of the North Atlantic Alliance on April 4 this year.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Norway committed to keeping Arctic Council as leading forum on North says ambassador, CBC News
Denmark: Danish policy prioritizes low-conflict Arctic amidst Russian tensions, Eye on the Arctic
Finland: Trial fence on Finland-Russia border nears completion, Lapland phase next, Yle News
Greenland: Growing focus on Arctic puts Greenland at higher risk of cyber attacks: assessment, Eye on the Arctic
Iceland: NATO anti-submarine warfare exercise underway in North Atlantic, Eye on the Arctic
Norway: And in Between, There Are Doors’—Europe, the Arctic, and shared spaces, Blog by Marc Lanteigne
Russia: Moscow expels five Swedish diplomats, orders closure of Consulate General, The Independent Barents Observer
Sweden: Blinken to visit Luleå amid Arctic fighter jet exercise, The Independent Barents Observer
United States: U.S.set to open sole diplomatic post above Arctic Circle—Location? Tromso, Norway, Eye on the Arctic
