IN PARTNERSHIP:

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met with President Sauli Niinistö for official talks at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki on July 10, 2017. Prime Minister Abe’s spouse, Akie Abe, on the right. Photograph: TONY ÖHBERG/FINLAND TODAY

The assassination on Friday of Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, Shinzo Abe, has sent shockwaves around the world, Finland included.

“Deeply shocked to hear about the violent attack against former Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe. My thoughts are with his family and loved ones and the people of Japan,” President Sauli Niinistö said on Twitter on Friday.

Prime Minister Sanna Marin (the SDP) expressed “condolences on the behalf of the Finnish government due to the death” of the former prime minister of Japan. “Our thoughts are with those closest to Abe and with the people of Japan,” Marin said on Twitter.

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Prime Minister Abe visited Finland in 2017 with his spouse, Akie Abe.

It was their first time.

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