Russia’s Åland consul is set to be replaced

Russia’s consul on Åland is set to change, Yle reports, citing the newspaper Nya Åland. Consul Aleksandr Rogov, who is based in Mariehamn, confirmed the change to the newspaper by email. Finland’s Foreign Ministry did not comment.

Rogov said the consulate hopes to receive information about his successor before Christmas. He said the consul’s term on Åland usually lasts five years. Rogov took up the post in 2020 and has kept a low profile during his time in Mariehamn.

The legal status of Russia’s consulate on Åland is based on a 1940 agreement with the Soviet Union. Under the agreement, Russia has the right to monitor compliance with commitments to keep Åland demilitarised and unfortified. The consulate’s role has been debated more intensely since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.