Russia’s only representative at the OSCE meeting in Helsinki has said that a row over travel bans will hurt Finnish-Russian relations. Several members of the original Russian delegation had to withdraw from the conference as they are subject to EU sanctions and travel bans over Russia's actions in Ukraine.
Finland had sought a waiver for the Russians, but failed to get one, and so the Russians delegation withdrew in protest. Kovalev was the only attendee to make the trip from Moscow. He turned up an hour late and plans to participate in only part of the meeting out of solidarity with his compatriots.
"Of course this affects relations between Finland and Russia," said Kovalev. "Finland has violated the spirit of the first CSCE meeting 40 years ago, and the traditions agreed then. This is a bad precedent, as now any country can justify refusing to allow somebody to enter."
Finland had lobbied hard to host the meeting, exactly four decades after Helsinki hosted the summit of the CSCE (Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe) which later became the OSCE.
Some 300 legislators from more than 50 countries are attending the Helsinki assembly, which returns to the Finnish capital for the first time since 1993. The Parliamentary Assembly is currently led by the Finnish MP Ilkka Kanerva.