Finland to expel Russian envoy for nerve agent attack

Finland on Monday has decided to expel a Russian diplomat who works in the Russian Embassy in Helsinki following Salisbury nerve agent attack.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the President and Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy, said a press release issued by the President office on Monday afternoon.

“The President of the Republic and the Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy determined that Finland will expel one official with diplomatic status who works in the Russian Embassy in Helsinki,” stated the press release.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs will notify the Russian Ambassador of the matter.

The expulsion will be put into effect simultaneously with the corresponding actions of other EU Member States.

Expulsion decisions fall under the competence of national authorities, and each Member State acts based on its own analysis of the situation.

Earlier, the President of the Republic and the Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discussed the nerve agent attack that took place in Salisbury, in the United Kingdom, on 4 March.

Finland immediately condemned the use of a chemical weapon in the attack and, together with the other EU Member States, gave its strong support to the UK.

The attack in Salisbury poses a serious threat to the security of the whole of Europe. It is important that appropriate action be taken both within the EU and bilaterally.

At its meeting on 22−23 March, the European Council condemned the Salisbury attack in the strongest possible terms and agreed with the UK Government's assessment that it is highly likely that the Russian Federation is responsible for the attack and that there is no plausible alternative explanation.

In its conclusions, the European Council emphasised that the EU and its Member States should bolster their capabilities related to the prevention of hybrid and cyber threats, counter-intelligence, and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear-related risks.

News agency Xinhua adds: President Sauli Niinistö underlined on Monday the need to continue dialogues with Russia.

Niinistö talked to the media following an announcement by the Finnish government that one Russian diplomat will be expelled from Finland.

The president said resources should be now focused on mending the rift between East and West that appears to have widened.

Niinistö said Finland had considered the matter "from many aspects". Asked by a reporter whether Finland was now "between hard rock and the hot place", the president said that description is fairly apt.

Niinistö said the diplomat to be asked to leave had not been named yet as of Monday afternoon.

Prime Minister Juha Sipilä told a separate press conference on Monday that the decision was not easy for Finland.

Sipilä said the Finnish practice is usually not making public the expulsions of diplomats.

Sipilä said a longer European process would have been better on dealing with the response, but it was not possible now.