Kiljunen quits Parliamentary body over remarks on eastern border closure

Chairperson of the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee Kimmo Kiljunen has resigned from his post following a controversy raised over his comments regarding closure of Finland´s eastern border with Russia, reported national broadcaster Yle.

Kiljunen, a lawmaker of the main opposition in the parliament Suomen Sosialidemokraattinen Puolue (Social Democratic Party of Finland-SDP) in a comment in October termed the closure of border as human right violation and demanded re-opening of the border.

He also criticised Finnish language tabloids labelling them as servants of Russian trolls.

Kiljunen apologised for his remarks and urged parliamentary group to relieve him from the position of Chairperson.

The SDP MP, who has Russian-born spouse in a statement on Thursday said that the situation in Russia and the eastern border touched him personally through family.

He, however, said that he understood as a Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee, such statement should not be made by him.

The SDP will announce the name of the new chairperson of the committee later.

Earlier, Finland temporarily closed all the border crossing points with Russia in December 2023.