The embassy arranged a meeting with a Russian detained in Finland

Russia has agreed with Finland on consular access to the Russian citizen Vojislav Torden (also known as Yan Petrovsky), who was detained at the request of Ukraine. About it reported Embassy of the Russian Federation in Finland.

“After V.I. Torden’s personal appeal was received on August 23, the embassy immediately took measures to provide assistance to a Russian citizen, negotiations began on organizing a visit by consular officers. An agreement was reached to meet with him in the coming days,” the statement said.

According to the Russian diplomatic mission, Torden was detained on July 20 while trying to fly to Nice from Helsinki. The Russian is suspected of violating Finnish immigration laws. From that moment on, Torden’s interests were represented by a local lawyer; he did not apply to the Russian embassy until August 23, although he could freely use the phone, Russian diplomats say.

Later it became known that the Russian appears in the sanctions lists as Yan Petrovsky. Ukraine requested his extradition in a criminal case. On August 25, the court extended the arrest of Torden, he is in Vantaa prison. The issue of the possible extradition of the Russian to the Ukrainian authorities will be considered later, the embassy specified.

Finnish media began to report on the detention of the Russian on August 25th. By data channel MTV Uutis, the arrested is one of the leaders of the sabotage and assault reconnaissance group (DSHRG) “Rusich”. DSHRG confirmed the detention of Petrovsky (call sign – Slavyan). The group explained that the Russian was detained a month ago, but the information was deliberately not brought to the media “in the interests of the person and the cause.”

TV and radio channel Yle with reference to Torden’s lawyer writesthat the Russian intends to seek asylum in Finland. The Ukrainian side claims that the man allegedly committed crimes in eastern Ukraine between 2014 and 2015. Thorden denies his guilt. According to the Gray Zone Telegram channel, a Russian may face imprisonment up to life.