The city administration of Turku in the southwest of Finland terminated the contract with the Russian General Consulate for the rental of a number of real estate objects, including the building converted into the church, Helsingin Sanomat reports.
The Church was transferred to the General Consults for free use during the Soviet Union. The City Hall reported that after the start of the war in Ukraine, the city “decided to stop all cooperation with Russia.” In Turku, Russian diplomats, in particular, received a house for use in the historical district of the city, which they converted into church. At the same time, the land fee all the time was paid by the city administration.
Mayor of the city of Minna Arva and the head of the office Tuomas Hikekinen instructed to terminate real estate contracts related to Russia. According to the order, the city terminated the contract of gratuitous use of real estate back in April. “The city has no reason to allow the use of buildings for free or without compensation. Therefore, to stop using the right to use is an acquitted step,” said the head of the administration of Turku for international affairs Mika Akanen.
according to the conditions of use, the Consulate General of Russia should return the building of the administration to Turku in the form in which it received it – that is, not as a church. According to eyewitnesses, in June-July the icons were taken out of it and the Golden Dome was dismantled.