OSLO, June 6 – Finland will expel nine Russian diplomats from the Russian Embassy in Helsinki, accusing them of working on intelligence missions.
“Their actions are in violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations ,” the Finnish president’s office said, adding that the Russian ambassador had been informed of the diplomats’ expulsion.
The decision was taken after the meeting of the Finnish president, Sauli Niinisto, and the state’s ministerial committee for foreign policy and security.
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Lehtikuva/Jussi Nukari via REUTERS/File Photo
The Russian Embassy in Helsinki has not yet reacted to this decision by Finland.
The Nordic states, Norway and Sweden have also expelled Russian diplomats in recent months, saying they were actually intelligence officers.
Moscow denies that its diplomats are involved in inappropriate activities and has retaliated by expelling diplomats from Norway and Sweden.
Finland joined NATO in April, angering neighboring Russia, which is continuing its occupation of Ukraine.
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