Finland’s Foreign Ministry has called for a full and transparent investigation into the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
On Monday, Finland’s Foreign Ministry summoned Russia’s ambassador to Finland, Pavel Kuznetsov, over the death in custody of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
In a social media post Monday afternoon, the MFA said he had been summoned “to highlight Russia’s responsibility and demand a full and transparent investigation.” Finland added: “We will continue.”[s] We demand the release of all political prisoners in Russia. ”
Solovetsky stone flower
Also on Monday, Finland’s ambassador to Moscow, Antti Herantela, laid flowers in Navalny’s memory.
The Finnish embassy in Moscow posted a photo of Herantela placing flowers tied with blue and white ribbons at the Solovetsky Monument, a monument to victims of political repression.
This stone was installed in Moscow’s Lubyanka Square in 1990. The stone was brought from Solovetsky Island in the White Sea, near Finland’s far northeastern border. It was the site of the first Soviet POW camp.
It has become an unofficial memorial site for Navalny since authorities announced his death on Friday.
Over the weekend, Russian authorities detained at least 366 people for praising Navalny by placing flowers at the Solovetsky Monument.
On Friday, Finnish leaders, including President Sauli Niinisto and NCP Prime Minister Petteri Orupo, paid tribute to Navalny and said Russia was responsible for his death in a Siberian prison.
Herantela has been Finland’s special envoy in Moscow since September 2020, after serving as a senior official at the embassy in Moscow for three years.