Russia’s Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday that it had summoned Finland’s ambassador in Moscow to protest the seizure of Russian state property related to the Ukraine case.
A Finnish court has ordered the confiscation of $4.25 billion in Russian-owned assets at the request of Ukraine’s state gas supplier Naftogaz. The order relates to a ruling last year by a Hague-based arbitration court that ordered Russia to pay $5 billion in compensation to Naftogaz for assets seized during its annexation of Crimea.
Naftogaz previously said it did not expect Moscow to comply with the court’s ruling, but said it was the first publicly known successful asset freeze outside Ukraine.
Moscow authorities accused Finnish state enforcement authorities of confiscating 45 properties, including property used at the Russian embassy in Helsinki and protected by diplomatic immunity. Finnish media earlier reported on the seizure of the Russian Scientific and Cultural Center in the Nordic capital.
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Russia’s Foreign Ministry said it had summoned the Finnish ambassador to Moscow, Maria Ryvala, and “demanded that the Finnish side review this unjust decision as soon as possible.”
“If necessary, the Russian side will take retaliatory measures,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement, accusing the Finnish side of ignoring an earlier protest letter submitted by the Russian embassy in Helsinki.
The Russian Embassy earlier said that half of the assets seized were diplomatic property, including “villas and apartments where diplomats live.”
The Kremlin vowed to use “all legal means” to contest Finland’s seizure.
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