Russian Foreign Ministry representative Marija Zaharova repeated Russia’s accusation that Finland closed border crossings without discussing with Russia.
MOSCOW Official representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maria Zakharova says that Russia is open to dialogue about the situation at the border between the two countries.
Zaharova has denied that Russia had deliberately directed asylum seekers to the Finnish border.
– It would be simple to solve this issue: start consultations, a negotiation process, contacts with Russian colleagues who also protect the common border, Zaharova said at her weekly press conference.
Ambassador of Finland Antti Helanterä visited the Russian Foreign Ministry on Monday, and Russia presented him with a protest about the closure of border crossings.
Russia has threatened to take countermeasures. Today, Wednesday, Zaharova repeated that Russia is preparing an answer to the closing of the border crossings among the agencies.
The Russian Foreign Ministry accuses Finland of closing four border crossings without discussing the matter with the Russian side through any channels.
– No prior consultations with the Russian side were held by the Finnish side. We were just put in front of the fact, says Zaharova.
Pressure measures are expected from Russia
Zaharova still did not reveal what the countermeasures might be.
– It could be that it is a question of pressure being applied to Helsinki. We are open to dialogue on this border issue. We didn’t cut off the dialogue and we haven’t cut off the communication channels to Helsinki.
According to Zaharova, there would have been time for discussions after November 13, when the situation came up.
– Now people’s situation has only worsened, when they literally have to spend the night in the field in those current conditions and in that geographical location, in the cold and sub-zero temperatures, Zaharova complained about the situation of people trying to go to Finland.
Prime minister Petteri Orpo said on Monday that Finland has had discussions with Russia on the matter through diplomatic channels. Zaharova demanded that Finland name with whom and when the discussions took place.
– Who did they negotiate with? Maybe with pranksters? Zaharova asked.
Zaharova was apparently referring to a recent incident in which Russian prank callers Vovan and Lexus presented themselves as representatives of the West African economic community and were able to talk to the Finnish foreign minister via remote connection Elina Valtonen with.