Finland closes another consular office in Russia temporarily

Finland has decided to temporarily close the Petrozavodsk Office, which operates under the Consulate General in St. Petersburg, Russia, said the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in a press release on Tuesday.

The temporary closure of the office means that its activities will be suspended until further notice.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs estimates that at present Finland does not need an office in Petrozavodsk due to a significant decrease in the office’s core tasks. The office may be reopened later, if necessary.

The Petrozavodsk Office was set up in 1990. For three decades, it has focused on entry matters, bilateral connections and the promotion of regional and cross-border cooperation.

Earlier in January this year, Finland decided to close the office in Murmansk.

Both the Petrozavodsk Office and the Murmansk Office were operated under Finland’s Consulate General in St Petersburg.

The Consulate General in St Petersburg will continue its activities.

The Ministry’s decision does not affect the activities of Russian diplomatic missions in Finland.

Preparations for the temporary closure of the office are under way and the office’s customer service has been closed.

Entry matters in Russia will be handled by Finland’s Embassy in Moscow and by the Consulate General in St Petersburg.

Clients can contact the Consulate General in St. Petersburg in other matters previously handled by the Petrozavodsk Office, the Foreign Ministry press release added.