Table of Contents
NOS news•today, 8:13 p.m
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Rolien Creton
Scandinavian writer
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Rolien Creton
Scandinavian writer
Finland has been the first country that began to destroy buildings belonging to the Russian state. Under international law, Russian property can be expropriated, with the proceeds benefiting Ukraine. The speed with which the Finns are moving reflects the rapidly deteriorating relationship between the neighboring countries.
Across Finland, Russian state buildings are being put on the distribution list, including the Russian Center for Science and Culture, the apartment of a former Russian consul and old Russian residence.
In the city of Turku in western Finland, the city’s spokesperson for International Affairs, Mika Akkanen, shows the Art Nouveau building in the center where the former Russian consul lived. The consul still owns the apartment, but it is on Finland’s extradition list. “We know that the consul is still paying fixed costs,” says Akkanen. “But you have to wonder how long it will continue to do that.”
Day care center on the consulate site
Akkanen is determined: “Russia will have to pay for the damage it causes.” The next stop on his tour is a large brown Soviet-style building that previously housed the Russian consulate.
In the 1960s, Finland lent the building to Russia, but it remained Finnish. But after closing the Finnish consulate in Russia, Finland responded by closing the consulate in Turku. The building is now still used by support groups. But the plan is to raze it to the ground and install a modern day care center there. “The place is ideal for children,” says Akkanen enthusiastically, as he shows around the large garden with many climbing trees.
Akkanen knows the construction of the Russian consulate like no other. For twenty years in Turku he was responsible for relations with Russian diplomats in the city. People he often got to know well. But everything changed early in the morning of February 24, 2022, the morning Russia invaded Ukraine.
West of Turku, in the Baltic Sea between Finland and Sweden, are the Finnish islands of Åland. Then they noticed that the attention is increasing towards the island as a result of tension with Russia. The process of disinfection is also fully involved in Åland.
Just outside the capital Mariehamn is the old guest house Solkulla, or “Sunshine”. Ulf Güssner, who was 86, lived there until he was five years old. His mother bought the estate to open a boarding house. But after the Second World War the family, a mother and four small children, were evicted from the house and the Russians took over the boarding house. Güssner’s father was German and was sent as a prisoner of war to a Siberian prison camp.
An important moment
For Güssner, the capture is an important moment: “It’s almost happening now. ” Güssner shows the ruined building to an outsider for the first time. “Remember,” he says, with a twinkle in his eye, “it doesn’t belong to the Finnish state yet. So we’re now entering Russian property.” Güssner belongs to the hard core of an island group that has been demonstrating every day in front of the consulate in Mariehamn since the very beginning of the Russian invasion.
“When Russia invaded Ukraine, we immediately knew it was bad,” said Nina Viktorsson, who came to the show with her 10-year-old daughter. “We immediately realized it was important to join to NATO as soon as possible.”
“It was the moment of truth,” said Jussi Lassila of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs. For decades, neutrality was a curse word in Finland. But with the Russian invasion, that neutrality was suddenly called into question. The Finnish government wants to go one step further and is working on a law that will no longer allow Russians to buy property in Finland.
For Lassila the question is whether that is wise. The border between Finland and Russia has been closed for a year and in practice Russia cannot do much shopping in Finland. But the tens of thousands of Russians in Finland, who often have dual nationality and are anti-Putin, feel they are being hunted. Akkala: “Even if they wanted to, they cannot lose their Russian nationality. “
2024-11-21 19:13:00
#Finland #accelerating #seizure #Russian #real #estate
How does the historical context of Solkulla and Güssner’s family story provide a microcosm for understanding the long-term consequences of Russia’s actions on individual lives and communities’ identities?
## Thematic Sections & Open-ended Questions for Discussion:
**Section 1: Historical Context and Personal Impact**
* **Focus:** The article begins by describing the history of the Solkulla guest house and its seizure by Russia after World War II. It highlights the personal story of Ulf Güssner, whose family was displaced.
* **Questions:**
* How does the history of the guest house and Güssner’s family story illustrate the broader impact of Russian actions on individuals and communities?
* How does knowing this historical context shape your understanding of Finland’s current stance towards Russia?
**Section 2: Rising Tensions and Finland’s Response**
* **Focus:** The article discusses the increased tensions between Finland and Russia after the invasion of Ukraine and Finland’s decision to join NATO.
* **Questions:**
* What are the driving forces behind Finland’s decision to join NATO? To what extent is this a direct response to Russia’s actions?
* Do you think Finland’s accession to NATO will escalate tensions with Russia or contribute to regional stability?
**Section 3: Property Seizure and Russian Citizens in Finland**
* **Focus:** The article highlights Finland’s intention to prevent Russians from buying property in the country and the concerns of Russian citizens in Finland who hold dual nationality.
* **Questions:**
* Is the proposed law to ban Russian property purchases a justified response to the current situation? What are the potential implications for Russians who already own property in Finland?
* How can Finland balance its security concerns with the rights and wellbeing of its Russian residents, particularly those who oppose the war in Ukraine?
* **Discussion:** Consider the ethical implications of targeting individuals based on their nationality, even when their government is engaged in aggression.
**Section 4: Long-Term Implications and Future Relations**
* **Focus:** This section invites reflection on the broader implications of the conflict and future relations between Finland and Russia.
* **Questions:**
* How will the seizure of Russian property and other measures affect long-term relations between Finland and Russia?
* What role can diplomacy and dialogue play in addressing the root causes of conflict and promoting future cooperation?
* What lessons can be learned from this situation and applied to other geopolitical tensions around the world?
By dividing the article into these thematic sections and incorporating open-ended questions, we can encourage a nuanced and multi-faceted discussion about the complex realities of international relations, security concerns, and individual experiences in the context of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
