REUTERS/Ints Kalnins Acquire Licensing RightsHELSINKI, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Russia's foreign ministry on Thursday criticised a Finnish government plan to speed the confiscation of Russian-owned real estate in Finland, warning the Nordic country of countermeasures. Ousting Russian owners over unpaid bills is not currently legal if an official notification threatening confiscation cannot be delivered to them, Meri said. Meri said electronic notification would be sufficient once the rules change, but did not provide other details on Finland plans. "We will not leave without a proper response such actions of the so-called civilized Finnish state," Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said in a statement. Finland is also looking at ways to take control of Helsinki's biggest sports and events arena which has been shut since last year because of sanctions against its billionaire Russian owners.

---

Persons: Ints, Leena Meri, Meri, Maria Zakharova, Anne Kauranen, Rod Nickel Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, YLE, Thomson Locations: Helsinki, Finland, Rights HELSINKI, Finnish, Russia, Ukraine