Russia’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, announced that Moscow has placed limits on how Finnish diplomatic mission accounts may be used. She shared this during a briefing, noting that the move is a reciprocal measure aimed at parity between the two countries.
Zakharova stated, We confirm that Russia has imposed restrictions on the use of accounts by the Finnish Embassy and the Finnish Consulate General in St. Petersburg.
The Russian government framed the step as a mirror constraint, designed to reflect the actions taken by Finland and maintain mutual accountability between the two states.
In Helsinki, former Finnish President Sauli Niinistei criticized the freezing of the Finnish diplomatic accounts in Russia, arguing that the response exceeds what has been applied to Russian diplomatic missions abroad. Niinistei emphasized that freezing those assets appears excessive and suggested a need to explore how diplomatic operations in Russia can continue under such disruptive conditions.
On 17 May, the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs announced that the bank accounts of Finland
0s official representations in Russia are frozen and unavailable for use. The ministry described the situation as serious and said an investigation had commenced. In addition to the Finnish Embassy in Moscow, the Finnish Consulate General in St. Petersburg is affected by the restrictions.
Observers note that the restrictions come amid a broader diplomatic strain between Moscow and Helsinki, with both sides signaling a commitment to safeguarding the continuity of diplomatic activities while navigating the limitations imposed on financial operations. Analysts point out that such measures can complicate routine consular services, including passport processing, visa applications, and assistance to Finnish citizens in Russia. The developments are being watched closely by government officials in both capitals, who stress the importance of maintaining formal diplomatic channels and the safety of personnel and dependents in the field. The evolving situation highlights the delicate balance between political assertions and the practical needs of bilateral diplomacy, particularly in environments where financial and administrative bottlenecks can quickly constrain essential services. Attribution: official statements from the Russian foreign ministry and the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, with remarks from former Finnish President Sauli Niinistö reported by multiple news outlets.