Russia asks Finland to ban protests during Duma vote

Russia has asked Finland to ban demonstrations outside its embassy in Finland during the country’s State Duma elections, Yle reports. Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs confirmed the request to Yle.

The note asks Finnish authorities to increase security measures near the polling station at the embassy. Those measures include a temporary ban on demonstrations.

The ministry has not yet said how Finland will respond to the note.

The note was sent to all of Russia’s diplomatic missions abroad, according to the election commission, which spoke to the Russian news agency RIA Novosti.

The ministry said Finland had been informed through normal procedures that a polling station would open at the Russian embassy for the Duma elections.

The elections for the State Duma, the lower house of Russia’s parliament, will be held from September 18 to 20. One representative will be elected to the Duma from each constituency.

The Moscow Times reported that Russia’s Foreign Ministry expects demonstrations supporting Ukraine in particular outside its embassies during the elections. Iltalehti was the first to report the matter.