a one to five year suspended sentence for kidnapping and child abduction on 13 October 2009 in käräjäoikeus (lower court). She also had to pay 20,000 euros for emotional distress to her son and almost 4,800 euros to Paavo Salonen. The next year, hovioikeus (the Finnish appeals court) upheld Salonen's suspended prison sentence. However, the court did lower the damages awarded Anton Salonen to 10,000 euros. The court also ordered her to pay 7,500 euros in legal fees for Anton and Paavo Salonen. Aftermath In May 2010, Russian Child Rights Ombudsman Pavel Astakhov accused the Finnish authorities of denying Anton the right to speak Russian. Astakhov also referred to statements of Johan Bäckman that Finnish authorities had also banned Anton from praying, being baptized, or wearing crosses. A Russian newspaper reported these claims and referred Anton's mother and Bäckman to the Finnish Anti-Fascist Committee. In March 2011, Rimma Salonen announced she is a candidate for the 2011 Finnish parliamentary election for the Workers Party of Finland. She also represented the organization of Finnish Anti-Fascist Committee. Salonen got 16 votes. Russia joined the Hague Abduction Convention on 1 October 2011. In April 2012 Rimma Salonen appealed to the Russian people and called for help because, according to her, Western authorities are stealing talented and unique Russian children to supplant Western children who are just robots and sex dolls. In May 2013 Supreme Court of Finland decided not to give Rimma Salonen right to appeal for the ruling of Vaasa Hovrätt. This means Anton's father is his legal guardian as Vaasa Hovrätt ruled. References Finnish Russian Пятилетний мальчик может поссорить Москву и Хельсинки СКП РФ возбудил дело против финна, похитившего Антона Салонена Спор родителей Антона Салонена нанесет ущерб российско-финляндским отношениям, считает глава МИД Финляндии Выкрасть ребенка финскому отцу помог вице-консул страны в Петербурге! "Похищенного" ребенка никто не похищал? Стало известно имя финского дипломата, вывезшего в багажнике русского мальчика See also Rantala incident Finland–Russia relations Russian children Political scandals in Finland Diplomatic incidents