MOSCOW, October 11. /TASS/. Russia will respond immediately if Finland shuts down the Russian consulate general in Turku, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Tuesday.

"I think the Finnish side should have no illusions about this. Helsinki should be aware that the practical implementation of such initiatives will entail an immediate response from our country," the diplomat said at a news conference in comments on demands by the mayor of Turku to close the Russian diplomatic mission in the city.

She said "such statements are a new attempt by Russophobic Finnish politicians to earn cheap popularity by provoking another confrontational step toward Russia, with the consequences being quite predictable".