Russia Retaliates, Expels Finnish Diplomat Over NATO Membership Decision

Expulsion of Russian Diplomats and Retaliatory Measures Against NATO Membership

In Kharkiv Oblast in northeastern Ukraine, on the 11th (local time), a Russian BMD-4 armored vehicle fired a Kornet anti-tank missile. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Minwoo Lee] Russia has expelled two Finnish diplomats. This move is interpreted as retaliation for Finland's expulsion of Russian diplomats in April and its recent decision to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Major foreign media outlets, including AFP, reported on the 17th (local time) that Russia expelled two staff members of the Finnish embassy in Moscow.

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a press release, "We strongly protested to the Finnish ambassador regarding Finland's expulsion of two Russian diplomats in April," and added, "As a countermeasure, we have expelled two Finnish diplomats."

Additionally, Russia accused Finland of escalating tensions by supplying weapons to Ukraine and concealing crimes against civilians committed by Ukrainian nationalists.

Previously, Western countries expelled dozens of Russian diplomats following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Finland, which shares a border with Russia, recently decided to join NATO, abandoning its decades-long policy of military non-alignment. This has heightened tensions between the two countries.