Russia expels two Finnish diplomats

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia says it is expelling two Finnish diplomats and leaving a multinational organization focused on the Baltic Sea as tensions remain high over Finland and Sweden’s ambitions to join NATO. Russia’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday framed the expulsion of the two Finnish diplomats as a response to Finland’s expulsion of two Russians last month. He also said the Finnish ambassador was read a protest against Finland’s “confrontational course in relation to Russia,” including its role in international sanctions against Russia and the supply of arms to Ukraine. The statement did not mention NATO. Russia said it was leaving the Council of Baltic Sea States, an 11-nation grouping in which Finland and Sweden are prominent members, and the related Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference, a grouping of national lawmakers. Read: Moscow says European Union and NATO member countries sought to use CBSS as “an instrument of anti-Russian policy.” Russia was suspended from participating in CBSS in March by the other members. Ukrainian family crosses five countries to take refuge in the USA

Original source in Spanish