Finnish Authorities Ask EU to Lift Entry Ban on Russian Duma Speaker

Finnish authorities are negotiating with Brussels on temporarily lifting the EU entry ban for Russian Duma Speaker Sergei Naryshkin, who has been invited by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe for its July summit in Helsinki, the Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE) has reported.

Naryshkin's name was placed on the European Union's list of Russian officials banned from entering the 28-member politico-economic bloc last year at the height of the crisis in Ukraine. YLE confirmed that the issue of providing Naryshkin a visa will be discussed during Tuesday's meeting in Moscow between Russian President Vladimir Putin his Finnish counterpart Sauli Niinisto.

Finnish Prime Minister Juha Sipila and Foreign Minister Timo Soini have each confirmed that Finland is presently conducting negotiations with the EU over the issue, but could not say whether and when a final decision would be reached.