Sergei Naryshkin was due to the summit of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), but was refused an entry visa by Finnish authorities on the grounds that he is subject to an EU travel ban under the current sanctions regime.
On Thursday afternoon Niinistö told Yle that Finland carefully examined the possibilities of exempting the visa requirement so that Naryshkin could attend the OSCE meeting, which begins on Sunday.
“It’s of course a very unfortunate situation,” Niinistö said. “Finland acted according to its own obligations, and according to agreed EU sanctions and travel bans.”
Niinistö said he thought some of the comments by Russian politicians about the issue were a bit sharp, but expected. He said relations between Finland and Russia remain fundamentally sound.
“We’ll see how this goes forward,” Niinistö said. “I don’t think this will cause any deep wounds.”
Earlier this week Finnish authorities declined a request to temporarily lift an EU travel ban on the chair of the lower house of the Russian Parliament.
Head of the Russian Duma, Sergei Naryshkin, is one of many high-ranking Russian officials facing EU sanctions such as a travel ban following the outbreak of hostilities in Ukraine.
Naryshkin was invited to participate in a meeting of the OSCE’s Parliamentary Assembly, due to take place in Helsinki from July 5 - 9.
