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Finland plans to continue cooperation with Russia — Foreign Ministry

Moscow earlier notified Helsinki that one staff member of Finland’s Moscow embassy will be expelled within two weeks

HELSINKI, March 30. /TASS/. Finland plans to continue cooperation with Russia as usual despite Moscow’s decision to expel one Finnish diplomat in retaliation to a similar move made by Helsinki, Director General of the Department for Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia at the Finnish Foreign Ministry Maimo Henriksson told the Yle broadcasting company on Friday.

"It was an expected decision," she said.

"We believe that work on joint matters will continue as usual," Henriksson added.

Moscow earlier notified Helsinki that one staff member of Finland’s Moscow embassy will be expelled within two weeks.

On Friday, the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned ambassadors of the countries that had expelled Russian diplomats to hand them notes of protest and notify them of Moscow’s retaliatory measures.

In late March, a number of countries announced a coordinated decision to expel Russian diplomats, expressing solidarity with Great Britain in connection with the poisoning of former Russian military intelligence (GRU) Colonel Sergei Skripal.