The Foreign Ministry of Russia issued a statement expressing concern over the display of the State Flag of the Russian Federation in Finland during mass demonstrations that coincided with Finland’s Independence Day on December 6. It called the actions extremist and demanded they stop in the future. The ministry framed the event as a serious insult to the Russian state symbol and noted that a diplomatic line had been drawn against Finland as Moscow viewed the incident as an unprecedented disrespect toward its emblem.
Russia urged Helsinki to ensure that the perpetrators are held accountable and to take steps to prevent such provocations from recurring. The statement referenced Article 239 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which addresses desecration of state symbols and carries penalties that include deprivation of liberty or other sanctions. In contrast, Finnish law specifically penalizes desecration of the Finnish flag only.
No Major Inconvenience
Finland’s Independence Day celebrations traditionally begin with an official flag-raising atop Tähtitornimäki Hill in central Helsinki, followed by a daytime military parade and a late afternoon torch procession held by various civic groups. The procession then proceeds from the Hietaniemi cemetery to Senate Square, marking the ceremonial arc of the day.
During the events, protesters reportedly burned the Russian flag near the cemetery gates. Police on duty asked the activists to halt the action, but no detentions were reported. Finnish officials described the overall celebration as proceeding without serious disturbances, with preliminary estimates showing crowd numbers in the thousands on December 6.
Finland and NATO
In May, Finland and Sweden submitted applications to join NATO, a move that had attracted broad support aside from objections raised by Hungary and Turkey. Turkish authorities had linked the issue to allegations that the Nordic states supported Kurdish groups considered terrorists in Ankara. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for the extradition of PKK members to Turkey.
Finnish authorities later barred the marchers from displaying PKK flags during the December 6 events, citing potential provocation and security concerns. Helsinki Police Chief Heikki Porola clarified that while PKK and other Kurdish organization flags are not broadly banned in Finland, the decision on December 6 was a one-time measure. Some demonstrators argued that the ban reflected acquiescence to Turkish diplomatic pressure.
On December 5, the Finnish government forwarded a draft law on NATO accession to Parliament. Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto emphasized that concerns over nuclear threats from Russia and the evolving European security landscape had driven Finns toward strengthened Atlantic Alliance ties. Officials noted that the security environment has shifted since the joint security discussions occurred, influencing Finland to consider its strategic options in light of potential nuclear or chemical threats.