Russia has declared the Finnish consular official who brought Anton Salonen from Russia back to Finland a persona non grata. Moscow informed Finland of the matter on Monday.
According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, consular official Simo Pietiläinen has violated against Russian laws and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic and Consular Relations.
The five-year-old Anton Salonen and his father Paavo Salonen came to Finland a month ago in Pietiläinen’s car, which was fitted with diplomatic plates.
Previously Anton had been illegally abducted from Finland to Russia by his Russian-born mother.
The incident of the boy's return to Finland sparked anger in Russian political circles, and the subject came up during a recent visit by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
