Mosse demonstrates outside the Russian consulate in Åland

Mosse demonstrates outside the Russian consulate in Åland – every day

2023-06-04T11:18:22.477Z

Highlights: Around 20 people demonstrate outside the Russian consulate in Mariehamn every day. Åland is strategically located between Finland and Sweden and is a demilitarised zone. Under a 1940 agreement, Russia has the right to monitor demilitare. The invasion of Ukraine has raised the question of whether Russia should have a consulate in Ålands. But Sia Siliopoulou Åkermark does not see that a citizens' initiative can lead to a closure of the consulate.

In Åland, around 20 people demonstrate against the war in Ukraine every day. They meet at 17 p.m. outside the Russian consulate – whose existence has been debated in Finland. Mosse Wallén is one of the initiators and has been on site almost every day. "We want to show that these are islands of peace," he says.

Åland is strategically located between Finland and Sweden and is a demilitarised zone. There must be no military or military installations here.

Under a 1940 agreement, Russia has the right to monitor demilitarization. Therefore, there is a Russian consulate in Mariehamn. According to Sia Siliopoulou Åkermark, director of the Åland Islands Peace Institute and associate professor of international law, the agreement is working as it should.

"A starting point in international law is that not even a war disrupts contractual relations between countries. Questioning all the agreements that resulted after the world wars would create chaos in international relations, she says.

Requirement for the closure of the consulate

At the same time, the invasion of Ukraine has raised the question of whether Russia should have a consulate in Åland. The former Finnish ambassador to Moscow told Svenska Yle that it is time to close the consulate. A citizens' initiative has gathered nearly 34,000 signatures demanding the same thing.

But Sia Siliopoulou Åkermark does not see that this can lead to a closure.

"A citizens' initiative concerns issues that the Riksdag can legislate on. I do not see what the Finnish Parliament can legislate on in this case. Thus, a citizens' initiative cannot apply to the termination of international obligations, she says.

According to Svenska Yle, Russia has responded that they want to keep the consulate, and sent a note to Finland that it has been vandalized. The Åland police have confirmed that a beer bottle smashed one of the windows.

The question of demilitarisation

But in light of the fact that Finland is now a member of NATO, the question of whether Åland can continue to be demilitarized is also debated. Ahead of the Finnish parliamentary election, almost half of the candidates said they wanted to abolish demilitarisation, according to Ålands Radio.

For Mosse Wallén, the demonstrations outside the consulate are only about one thing. Peace.

"I just hope that the consul will pass on that we are demonstrating for Ukraine.

Source: svt

Mosse demonstrates outside the Russian consulate in Åland – every day

Requirement for the closure of the consulate

The question of demilitarisation

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