Flag of Finland. Archival photoMOSCOW, May 17.Finnish Ambassador to Russia Antti Helatera was protested over the expulsion of employees of the Russian diplomatic mission, the Foreign Ministry said. ; as part of the EU's anti-Russian sanctions campaign, as well as Finland's confrontational course towards Russia, including the supply of weapons to the Kyiv regime and covering up the crimes of Ukrainian nationalists against the civilian population of Donbass and Ukraine,» the ministry said in a statement. Moscow will respond by expelling two members of the staff of the Finnish embassy. Helsinki made its decision back in April. One of the Russian employees was also denied a visa extension. Diplomatic relations between Russia and European countries deteriorated with the start of the military operation in Ukraine. Most EU countries have expelled diplomats in varying numbers under the pretext of activities that «do not correspond to their diplomatic status.» Moscow responds symmetrically.
Belgian diplomats declared persona non grata left Russia
