The Finnish Foreign Ministry reported that Russia has frozen the bank accounts of Finnish missions in the country. In Russia, besides the Finnish embassy in Moscow, St. Petersburg hosts a Consulate General.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the accounts of the Finnish representations in Russia are frozen and cannot be used. The ministry said it would seek clarification from Russian authorities about the reasons behind the blocking of the accounts.
The Finnish embassy stated that the situation is serious and that authorities are examining the conditions surrounding the incident. It recalled that under Article 25 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations Russia is obliged to ensure diplomats can carry out their official functions. The diplomatic mission also noted that European sanctions against Russia are not aimed at Russian embassies and consular offices.
Finnish President Sauli Niinistö called the account freezing an extreme measure. He said the frozen funds belonging to Finnish diplomatic missions in Russia exceed the blocked accounts linked to the Russian embassy in Helsinki. The president stressed that the issue raises concerns about how Finland can maintain the operation of its diplomatic missions under such hindrances.
Threatened with the possibility of closing diplomatic posts, Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto did not rule out that option. He mentioned the potential need to close the consulate in St. Petersburg or the embassy in Moscow, while indicating that current plans do not include immediate closures. The minister emphasized that operations would continue in Russia for now, albeit with a more laborious handling of cash flows.
The head of the Foreign Ministry described the actions of the Bank of Russia as a provocation that was not fully contemplated, yet he said the incident did not affect overall diplomatic relations between Moscow and Helsinki. Haavisto noted that Finland learned of the account freeze on April 27 but kept details private to avoid creating unnecessary public drama. In early May, Finnish diplomats sent a note to Russia seeking clarification on the situation.
Haavisto added that the issue should not be interpreted as a Russian reaction to sanctions. He mentioned complaints about payment problems at some Russian embassies, but noted that banking operations were functioning from the Finnish side according to the Foreign Ministry. He also did not comment on any possible link between these actions and the freezing of accounts at the Russian Center for Science and Culture in Helsinki.
Blocking of the Russian Scientific and Cultural Center accounts
The March Finnish edition of Talouselämä reported that the Russian Science and Culture Center had its accounts blocked at Nordea Bank. In April authorities confiscated the repository building and the land on which it stood, in addition to several diplomatic residences. The seizure was carried out under EU sanctions. Moscow then sent a note to the Finnish Foreign Ministry requesting clarification on how bailiffs actions relate to international law on the inviolability of state property. Finland later canceled the arrest due to lack of justified grounds.
On May 1, 2023, the Russian embassy in Helsinki stated that the bilateral cooperation framework was damaged due to Finnish actions. The envoy asserted that Finland’s NATO membership had contributed to the erosion of the once strong cooperation between the two countries. Russian diplomats noted that economic and trade ties had been disrupted even before these developments, reflecting broader strains in the relationship. Source attribution: Finnish authorities and corroborating reports are referenced for context in this account.