President and Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discuss diplomatic missions of Finland and Russia and preparation of Government Report on Finnish Foreign and Security Policy

On Wednesday 19 July, the President of the Republic and the Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy considered the situation of the diplomatic missions of Finland and Russia.

The President and the Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy noted that Russia’s announcement of the closure of Finland’s Consulate General in Saint Petersburg as of 1 October 2023 was an asymmetric response to Finland’s earlier announcement of expulsions. The President and the Ministerial Committee agreed that Finland would respond by withdrawing consent for Russia to operate its consulate general in Turku as of 1 October 2023. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has notified the Russian Ambassador of the matter.

The President and the Ministerial Committee also discussed Russia’s consulate in Mariehamn and took note of the current state of preparations of a more extensive legal analysis of the special status of Åland under preparation by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The analysis will discuss the status of Russia’s consulate in Mariehamn, among other matters.

In addition, the commencement of the preparation of the Government Report on Finnish Foreign and Security Policy as mandated by the Government Programme, was discussed.

Inquiries: Mikko Kivikoski, Deputy Director General, Ministry for Foreign Affairs (diplomatic missions of Finland and Russia), tel. +358 295 350 773, Maria Guseff, Director, Ministry for Foreign Affairs (legal analysis of the special status of Åland), tel. +358 295 351 158, Lauri Hirvonen, Director, Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Government Report on Finnish Foreign and Security Policy), tel. +358 295 350 063