Allegations of Human Rights Violations Leveled against Finland by Russia

Russia has filed a protest with Finland over the closure of border crossing points, according to the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Finnish ambassador, Antti Helanterän, was interviewed by Sergei Belyaevin, head of department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During this meeting, Helanterä expressed Finland’s point of view on the matter. According to Liivala, Finland hopes that Russia will return to its previous ways of operating and the problem at the border will disappear. If not, Finland will consider further measures.

Diplomatically, a protest is considered to be a harsh rejection of a decision or action. Finland’s head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Marja Liivalan, stated that the meeting was initiated by Finland and the topic was the situation at the border. According to Liivala, it wasn’t about a conversation or a note.

Russia believes that Finland’s decision is “unequivocally provocative” and follows a line whose purpose is “to exacerbate relations even more”. Russia accuses Finland of violating human rights, stating that “the closure of border crossings violates the rights and interests of tens of thousands of citizens