The President of the OSCE’s Parliamentary Assembly, Finnish MP Pia Kauma (NCP), met with a Russian representative during the annual meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Tashkent, Uzbekistan drawing fire for violating the EU policy of isolating Russia after the invasion of Ukraine three years ago.
The meeting with a Russian official by a member of Finland's governing party is considered an exception to the policy of Finland, a country that recently joined NATO despite its long tradition of neutrality. Kauma represents the National Coalition Party, which holds the foreign and defence ministerial positions in the government of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo.
"The Finnish government's policy is quite clear. The Finnish government does not meet with Russians," Orpo told the daily Helsingin Sanomat. "Peace must first be achieved in Ukraine. And this is a very clear line," he added. The Finnish delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly will discuss Kauma's actions internally, the delegation's secretary told the Finnish news agency STT.
Kauma's contact was reported by the EU Observer website, which said Kauma met with Russian senator Konstantin Kosachev on Wednesday in Uzbekistan. Kosachev represents the United Russia party, formerly led by President Vladimir Putin.
Kosachev has been subject to sanctions by the US and the UK, among others. Last month he commented on negotiations aimed at a ceasefire in Ukraine, writing on Telegram that "any agreements must be on our terms".
There has been virtually no dialogue with Russia within the OSCE since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Russia has not participated in the Parliamentary Assembly’s activities. According to the EU Observer, the meeting took place at Kauma's initiative.
In a speech at the conference, Kauma pointed out that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the CSCE’s Helsinki Final Act, which she said helped lay a solid foundation for security and co-operation in Europe. The CSCE changed its name to the OSCE in 1994. Finland took over as chair of the OSCE in January taking over from Malta.
Kauma commented on the meeting on X on Thursday. She said that the decision to meet with a representative of the Russian delegation was her own and that she did not represent Finland at the meeting. Kauma added that she condemns Russia's war in Ukraine. "I personally wanted to convey the message that I strongly condemn Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. And that Russia must cease hostilities immediately. This is the unequivocal position of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly."
However, the NCP's party secretary, Timo Elo, said he considered Kauma's actions as "ill-advised". Kauma is running in an election on Sunday 13 April for another term on the Espoo city council, where she has served for 20 years. She was first elected to Parliament in 2011, and has led the OSCE’s Parliamentary Assembly since 2021.
