Finland decides to close Russia's Consulate General in Turku

The Finnish government on Wednesday decided to withdraw consent for Russia to operate its consulate general in Turku as of October 1, 2023.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs notified the Russian Ambassador of the matter, said a government press release.

The government took the decision following a meeting between the President and Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy.

The meeting discussed diplomatic missions of Finland and Russia and preparation of Government Report on Finnish Foreign and Security Policy.

The President and the Ministerial Committee 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 meeting agreed that Finland would respond by withdrawing consent for Russia to operate its consulate general in Turku as of 1 October 2023 and also discussed Russia’s consulate in Mariehamn.

It 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.

Earlier on July 6, Russia announced that it would expel nine Finnish diplomats and cancel the authorisation of Finland's Consulate General in St Petersburg.

On June 6, Finland expelled nine employees of the Russian embassy to Helsinki.