A growing number of Finnish citizens demand the Russian consulate in the Capital of Åland, Mariehamn, is shut down as threats to security have started to grow since Finland became NATO’s newest member.
Already in April, a citizens’ initiative was launched on the grounds that the consulate’s time is up since it ”threatens Finnish security”.
When Russia in May froze the bank accounts of a Finnish embassy in Moscow and closed Finnish consulate offices in Murmansk and Petrozavodsk, a former ambassador to Moscow, Hannu Himanen, stated it was time for the Russian consulate to leave Åland.
Indeed, ”the rationale” and ”justification” for a Russian consulate on the island has ”long since disappeared”, former Chair of the parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee Jussi Halla-aho (The Finns Party), said on YLE.
The position of the consulate should be considered in the context of Russia’s recent actions, said Jarmo Lindberg, a former Commander of the Finnish Defence Forces and currently an MP for the National Coalition Party.
A somewhat opposing comment was heard from the social democratic MP Kimmo Kiljunen. He reiterated that, even if Russia breaks international treaties, Finland should be careful not to act similarly.
So far, the official Finland has not moved forward on the issue. Commenting on the position of Åland, Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto (Green) has said that during the NATO membership process, all international treaties concerning Finland were scanned, and none of them created an obstacle to joining the military alliance.
However, the debate on the Russian consulate in Mariehamn is expected to continue.
(Pekka Vänttinen | EURACTIV.com)
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