The embassy explained the restrictions against Finnish diplomatic missions as retaliatory measures

The Russian side imposed restrictions on the relations of Finnish diplomatic missions as a response. This was stated at the Russian embassy in Helsinki, writes “RIA News”.

“We are talking about practical measures to bring the banking services of Finnish diplomatic missions in Russia in line with the situation in which the Russian embassy in Finland has been since autumn last year,” the embassy said.

The Russian diplomatic mission noted that the diplomats were given the opportunity to use only the Nordea bank and the transfer of funds required a “long process of reviewing permission”, as well as a “prohibitive commission of 5,000 euros”.

“Now, on the basis of the principle of reciprocity, the Finnish Embassy, <...> given the opportunity to use a Russian bank VTB to make payments to ensure the current activities of the diplomatic mission in accordance with the norms of the Vienna Convention of 1961. So, as they say, “the ball is on the Finnish side,” the embassy concluded.

Formerly Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed on blocking the bank accounts of their representative offices in Russia. Then it was about the accounts of the embassy in Moscow and the consulate general of the republic in St. Petersburg. The Finnish Foreign Ministry confirmed to the Helsingin Sanomat newspaper that the assets were frozen and the country could no longer use them.

At the end of March, the Finnish authorities froze the bank accounts of the Russian Center for Science and Culture (RCSC) in Helsinki due to EU sanctions until further notice, Talouselämä wrote.

In April, the newspaper Helsingin Sanomat, referring to the debt collection reportedthat the Finnish authorities also seized the land and building of the RCSC. In addition, seven apartments in Helsinki were arrested, three of which are located near the RCSC. According to the publication, the total area of ​​the arrested property is 3326 square meters. m.

Against the backdrop of the start of Russia’s special operation in Ukraine, Finland, along with other EU countries, imposed sanctions against Russia. On April 4, the republic officially joined NATO.