Former Russian State Secretary and First Deputy Prime Minister Gennady Burbulis has threatened to take legal action against the Finnish newspaper Kainuun Sanomat. Last week, the paper published an article claiming Russia had considered selling the region of Karelia to Finland. According to the newspaper Russia, which was suffering financial problems in the 1990s, was considering selling the former Finnish regions of Karelia and Petsamo (Pechenga) to Finland. The paper wrote that Burbulis, a close aide to then-president Boris Yeltsin, was to speak to Finnish leadership about the matter. Burbulis said that no leader from Russia has ever promised to return the ceded region of Karelia to Finland. He said the claims were probably based on internal discussions within Finland. Burbulis added that he would be prepared to take legal action against the newspaper if he feels Russia has been insulted. Burbulis is currently a senator in the upper house of parliament. YLE
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