Russians in Finland (or Russian Finns) constitute a linguistic and ethnic minority in Finland. About 27,000 people have a citizenship of Russian Federation[2] and Russian is the mother language of about 48,000 people in Finland,[1] which represents about 0.8% of the population.
Russians citizens who moved before the Second World War are called "Old Russians". The next immigration wave happened after the dissolution of the Soviet Union as Ingrian Finns remigrated to Finland. At present, marriage and family ties are two other common reasons for Russians to immigrate Finland.[3]
History
The first migratory wave of Russians began in the early 18th century as Finland was part of Swedish Empire.[3] To Grand Duchy of Finland moved about 40,000 Russian soldiers, civilian workers and businessmen about 600. When Finland became independent many soldiers left the country to return home. Many businessman stayed, including the Sinebrychoff family. During the Russian Revolution many aristocrats and officers fled to Finland as refugee. Biggest refugee wave was in 1922 when about 33,500 persons came to Finland. Many of them had Nansen passport for many years. During the Kronstadt Rebellion about 1,600 officers fled to Finland. Russian citizens who moved in these three waves are called "Old Russians" whose 3,000–5,000 descendants live in Finland at present.[3]
A second major wave of immigration occurred after the fall of the Soviet Union. Many Russian guest workers came to Finland working in low-paying jobs. In the 1990s immigration to Finland grew, and Russian-speaking population which were descendants of Ingrian Finns immigrated to Finland. In the 2000s many nouveau riche Russians have bought estates in Eastern Finland.
Population
Table 1: Russian-speaking people in 2008[1]
City |
People |
Increase in 2000–08 |
Helsinki |
12,470 |
54,8% |
Vantaa |
3,958 |
138,3% |
Espoo |
3,029 |
95,0% |
Turku |
2,495 |
38,8% |
Tampere |
2,121 |
74,9% |
Lahti |
1,787 |
50,7% |
Lappeenranta |
1,711 |
62,2% |
According to Russian Embassy in Finland, there are about 50,000 Russian-speaking people in Finland.[4] However in 2008 study of Aleksanteri Institute, calculated 45,000 Russian-speaking people.[5] According to Statistics Finland, there were 48,740 Russian-speaking in 2008.[1] However half of Russian-speaking immigrants are Ingrian Finns and other Finno-Ugric people.[6] In 2008, there were 26,909 people with a citizenship of Russian Federation[2] – dual citizenships included. Furthermore there are people who have received only Finnish citizenship and Estonian Russians. Two most common reasons for immigration were marriage and descendant of Ingrian Finns.[7]
Culture
Russian language newspaper Spektr was founded in 1998 and Russian language radio channel Radio Sputnik (Russkoje Radio Helsinki) sends Russian language program. Many small Russian Orthodox Churchs have been founded in around Finland.
Accusations of racism
In 2007 the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance reported in its Third report on Finland [1]:
“ |
In its second report, ECRI recommended that action be taken to combat negative societal attitudes and manifestations of intolerance towards the members of Russian-speaking communities. However, representatives of these communities have indicated to ECRI that lack of determined action on the part of the Finnish authorities has allowed these attitudes and manifestations to intensify since ECRI’s second report. ECRI is concerned at reports indicating that Russian-speakers have been the targets of violence, in at least one case resulting in death, and that the racist motivation of these acts has not always been adequately dealt with by the police. Racial harassment of Russian-speakers and racist bullying of Russian-speaking children at school have also been frequently reported. In addition, ECRI’s attention has been drawn to the presence of anti-Russian material on the Internet inciting to racial hatred, and to the use of derogatory expressions to designate Russian-speakers as well as negative portrayal of these persons in the media. |
” |
Notable Russians in Finland
References