While walking through Helsinki, it’s hard not to notice traces of Russia’s past – such as the statue of Tsar Alexander II standing proudly in the city’s main square. This striking contrast with today’s tense Finland’s relations with Russia invites a closer look at the history between these two neighbours. Impressions from the National Museum, along with a few historical facts, come together in a simple yet thought-provoking reflection on how the Finns have long strived to maintain their own identity.

Finland’s relations with Russia | Les relations de la Finlande avec la Russie | Finnlands Beziehungen zu Russland | Stosunki Finlandii z Rosją

Our trip to Helsinki was brief. After four busy days on the road exploring the Baltic states, we spent a few days in Tallinn, Estonia’s capital. To reach Helsinki, the capital of Finland, you just take a ferry, and in about three hours, you’re there. It was my first time in Finland, and my understanding of the country was quite basic. Because of my work, I had some idea of its geography and transport system. I was neither surprised seeing people bathing in a swimming pool on the Baltic shore by 17 degrees Celsius, coming in and out of the sauna. Saunas are the Finnish speciality (obviously). I knew the indigenous people in this country were Sami people.

And … I knew that Finland’s relations with Russia through its history were tough (or at least I thought I knew). But that in the main square of Helsinki I would see a statue of a Russian Tsar, and hear that he was loved in this country was more than unexpected.

Statue of Alexander II, Helsinki, Finland. The statue is localised in front of the Helsinki Cathedral.

In one day you cannot learn a country or its history. But as for three hours I left my company with a goal to visit the National Museum of Finland, going through its exhibitions I caught a bit the overall historical contex. Now with plenty of photos made there, with a prospect of visiting Finland once more, it is time to connect the dots.

In the medieval period, Sweden had a significant influence on the region, with the Kingdom of Sweden establishing control over Finland in the 13th century. The area remained under Swedish rule for several centuries. Following the Russo-Swedish War from 1808 to 1809, Finland was ceded from Sweden to Russia. Surprisingly, Finland’s relations with Russia became positive. Tsar Alexander I who ruled Russia in that time recognizing the strategic benefits of possessing Finland, decided to grant it extensive autonomy, establishing the Grand Duchy of Finland as an autonomous part of the Russian Empire. The Diet of Porvoo in 1809 was a key event, where Alexander I affirmed the rights and privileges of the Finns, promising to uphold the country’s laws and religion. This era is often seen as the beginning of a distinct Finnish national identity.

His follower, Tsar Alexander II also positively impacted Finland. His reign is often associated with a period of liberalization and national awakening in Finland. He initiated several reforms that furthered Finnish autonomy. Notably, he restored the Diet of Finland in 1863, after a long period of inactivity, and introduced the Language Ordinance of 1863, which gave Finnish equal status with Swedish. These actions were instrumental in promoting Finnish language and culture. Additionally, under his rule, Finland’s economy and infrastructure saw significant development, including the construction of the Finnish railway network. Alexander II’s era is often seen as a golden age of Finnish autonomy within the Russian Empire. Alexander II was very popular in Finland, and his assassination in 1881 was mourned in the Grand Duchy. His death marked the end of the liberal era, and subsequent Tsars, especially Nicholas II, reversed many of his policies, implementing the Russification efforts.

After Alexander II’s death, his successors initiated policies aimed at strengthening the empire’s unity. This included the Russification of Finland, a policy designed to integrate Finland more closely into the Russian Empire. These efforts involved imposing the Russian language in administration and education, and the introduction of Russian law, which eroded Finnish autonomy. Legislative powers were gradually transferred from Finnish institutions to the Russian emperor and his government. This eroded the unique position Finland had enjoyed and led to widespread resentment among the Finnish population. There was a clampdown on the Finnish press and cultural expressions that were seen as dissenting or promoting Finnish nationalism. Censorship was increased, and many Finnish cultural figures faced persecution.

In response to Russification and the suppression of their rights, Finns began to cultivate a stronger sense of national identity. This period saw the rise of Finnish nationalism, which sought to preserve Finnish culture, language, and autonomy. The resistance was mostly peaceful, focusing on cultural preservation and political lobbying. In 1905, Finns organized a general strike, demanding the restoration of the country’s autonomy and rights. The unrest in Finland coincided with the Russian Revolution. This led to the November Manifesto, in which Nicholas II restored many of the rights that had been previously revoked, including the Finnish Diet’s legislative powers. The turmoil of World War I and the subsequent Russian revolutions in 1917 provided Finland with an opportunity to seek full independence. On December 6, 1917, Finland declared its independence from Russia, which was recognized by the new Bolshevik government.

The Attack, a painting by Edvard Isto from 1899 has become an emblematic depiction of the Russification of Finland and the Finnish resistance to it. In the painting, the double-headed eagle, a symbol of the Russian Empire, is shown in a menacing posture. One of its heads tears apart the Finnish Law Book, symbolizing Russia’s disregard for Finnish autonomy and legal system. The other head is poised to strike at a female figure, Suomi-neito, the Finnish Maiden. This character is a personification of Finland, often depicted as a young woman in national iconography, representing the nation itself. The imminent attack on Suomi-neito by the eagle is a metaphor for the threat posed by Russian policies to Finnish national identity and autonomy.

Shortly after the outbreak of World War II, the Soviet Union invaded Finland in November 1939, leading to the Winter War. Despite being heavily outnumbered, Finland put up a strong resistance. The war ended in March 1940 with the Moscow Peace Treaty, wherein Finland ceded approximately 11% of its territory to the Soviet Union but maintained its sovereignty. With the invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany in June 1941, Finland’s relations with Russia got yet more complicated, as Finland saw an opportunity to reclaim lost territories joining German foces. Although initially successful, the tide of the war turned, and Finland sought peace with the Soviet Union in 1944, leading to the Armistice of Moscow and later the Paris Peace Treaty in 1947. Finland was required to cede additional territories, pay reparations, and undertake to limit its armed forces. To maintain its sovereignty and a working relationship with the Soviet Union, Finland adopted a policy of neutrality, carefully balancing its relations between the East and the West. While Finland maintained a market economy and a democratic government, it avoided actions that could be perceived as hostile by the Soviet Union. The approach was legalised by Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance Treaty signed in 1948 between Finland and the Soviet Union.

The end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 removed the primary threat to Finland’s security and allowed it to pursue a more active role in international affairs, including joining the European Union and participating in NATO’s Partnership for Peace program though it remained for long time outside of NATO. Ultimately Finland joined NATO on 4 April 2023 following Russia’s aggression against Ukraine in February 2022.

Relations between Finland and Russia remain tense. Russia has been expanding its military infrastructure near the Finnish border, prompting Helsinki to bolster its own defences. The eastern border remains closed, with Finland accusing Russia of weaponising migration as a means of political pressure. Despite the strain, Finnish leaders, including President Alexander Stubb, have expressed a cautious openness to restoring ties in the future, contingent on the end of the war in Ukraine and Russia’s adherence to international law.