Russian ambassador summoned by Finland over Navalny’s death

The Finnish Foreign Ministry demanded a full, transparent investigation into the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

On Monday, the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Russian Ambassador to Finland, Pavel Kuznetsov, regarding the death in custody of the Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

In a social media post on Monday afternoon, the MFA said that he was called in “to emphasise that Russia is responsible and to demand a full and transparent investigation”. It added that Finland “continue[s] to call for the release of all political prisoners in Russia”.

Flowers at the Solovetsky Stone

Also on Monday, Finland’s Ambassador to Moscow, Antti Helanterä, laid flowers in Navalny’s memory.

The Finnish Embassy in Moscow posted a photo showing Helanterä laying flowers tied with a blue-and-white ribbon at the Solovetsky Stone, a monument to the victims of political repression.

It was set up on Moscow’s Lubyanka Square in 1990. The stone was brought from Solovetsky Island in the White Sea, near Finland’s far northeastern border, which was the site of the first Soviet prison camp.

It has become an unofficial Navalny memorial site since authorities announced his death on Friday.

Russian authorities detained at least 366 people over the weekend for honouring Navalny, including by laying flowers at the Solovetsky Stone.

On Friday, Finnish leaders, including President Sauli Niinistö and Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) paid tribute to Navalny and said that Russia bears responsibility for his death at a Siberian prison.

Helanterä has been the Finnish envoy to Moscow since September 2020, following an earlier three-year stint as a senior official at the embassy there.