POISONING

Haavisto to discuss Navalny case during visit to St Petersburg

A couple stands in front of Russian national guard officers who are blocking a street during a demonstration in St Petersburg. Photo: Sergei Mikhailichenko/dpa.
Foreign Minister Haavisto will meet representatives of civil society organisations too.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto will visit St Petersburg on Monday 15 February.

During his visit to the city, Haavisto will have a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, with whom he will discuss the latest issues of common interest to Russia, Finland and the EU. 

According to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, both ministers will discuss the situation of opposition politician Alexei Navalny, EU-Russia relations, the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, Belarus and Ukraine, as well as arms control.

Regional cooperation

Ministers will also discuss regional cooperation in areas such as environmental protection and nuclear safety, and preparations for the upcoming Russian chairmanship of the Arctic Council and the upcoming Finnish chairmanship of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council.

Discussions will also touch on bilateral issues.  

During his visit, Foreign Minister Haavisto will meet representatives of civil society organisations too.