Finland Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto hinted that Russia can stand behind the protest with the burning of the Qur’an in Stockholm, foreign media write.
The action on which the book sacred for Muslims was burned was organized by the leader of the Danish ultra -right party “Tough Course” Rasmus Paludan. He agreed on her in advance with the authorities. The Turkish Foreign Ministry said that such an event is unacceptable. Nevertheless, Stockholm did not have legal grounds to prohibit this event. It took place on January 21. The Paludan, as promised, burned the Qur’an, parallelly criticizing Turkey and its President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Paludan’s protest was commented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland. He noted that this action “raises the question that there is some kind of third party – for example Russia – or some other side that opposes membership in NATO and strives for provocations to achieve this goal.” Haavisto added that the relations of Paludan with Russia “were investigated, and certain connections were found in his environment.”
The Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson made a similar statement: “There is strength, both inside Sweden and beyond, who want to prevent the membership of Sweden in NATO.”
The Paludan on Friday, September 27, once again burned the Qur’an, this time in Copenhagen. Moreover, he did this three times: opposite the Turkish Embassy in Denmark, at the consular department of the Russian Embassy in Copenhagen and at the local mosque. The extremist said that he would make such shares weekly until Ankara supports Sweden entry into NATO.