During my childhood and youth, Finland was known for the fact that its inhabitants voluntarily self-censored everything negative that the Soviet Union did. This was the case whenever the Russians caused problems in the world, and even more so when the great power of the East humiliated Finland.
The Soviet Union eventually collapsed under its own misery, and finally, Finland dared to become a normal democracy, seeking its friends among like-minded nations—and ultimately joining the Western defense alliance.
The difference compared to past decades is truly astonishing. Or what should one think of the fact that Finnish Member of Parliament Timo Heinonen (National Coalition Party) has shared his own thoughts on social media as follows:
"Russia's ambassador to Finland, Pavel Kuznetsov! You, under the leadership of your dictator Vladimir Putin, started the war of aggression in Ukraine and committed war crimes. It is sad that you chose the path of a rogue state. The blame is entirely yours."
His statement is not particularly remarkable in itself but is firmly based on facts. And as such, it should be understood everywhere in the world—including in Russia.
However, as someone raised in a Finland that was once deeply influenced by the Soviet Union, this evokes very special feelings in me. Having experienced all that, it is truly great to see Finnish politicians addressing issues as they are and valuing adherence to facts!
Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Finland Boosts Military Self-Sufficiency and Support for Ukraine
Finnish Minister Riikka Purra: “Putin Is a War Criminal, an Aggressive Imperialist”
History of Finland XV: Paasikivi-Kekkonen doctrine
I fully agree with the professor and Timo Heinonen. Sad to say, at the same time there are people who fully buy the Russian story.
ReplyDelete"Acknowledging the facts is the beginning of wisdom" - President Juho Paasikivi once said.
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