[2] According to the treaty, if a Soviet consular representative believes the demilitarization of Åland is being violated, he has the right to notify the Finnish authorities to perform a joint investigation.

Stig Berling had managed to escape Swedish custody after being imprisoned for espionage and made his way to the Soviet consulate in the Åland Islands.

Due to financial constraints in the 1990s, the Russian government considered permanently closing the consulate, but ultimately chose to keep it open with considerably less staff.

The Russian Embassy in Helsinki sent a diplomatic note to the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, demanding the culprits be prosecuted and asked for more security to be provided to the attacked consulate.

Himanen stated, "If we want to correct this anomaly of 1940, now would be a very good opportunity" and "Finland could say that the foundations of the 1940 treaty have disappeared and that the Russian consulate has no legitimate role in Mariehamn".