#ingria

Happy Halloween! 🎃

Yrjö Elfengren, commander of the North Ingrian Regiment

About a hundred Finnish Russians gathered at a pro-Ukraine, anti-war rally in Helsinki on Sunday 17th November 2024. They began the demonstration at the Kansalaistori Square and marched to the Russian Embassy, calling out "Victory for Ukraine! Jail Putin! Freedom for political prisoners!" At the embassy, they demanded immediate withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine and freedom for political prisoners.

Comments given to Yle:

"I came from Forssa because it's important to oppose the war. Everyone who can should be here." - Aleksandr Nesterov

"I want to show that Russians who oppose the war exist, and to meet others who think alike." - Nikolai Kutšumov

"I also want to show the people in Russia, that they are not alone. Even though they cannot take to the streets now and speak freely, we will instead. Our goal is a free Russia and the freedom of political prisoners. The prisoners are kept in horrific conditions and are tortured. This should not happen in the 21st century." - Darja Drobysheva

"We greatly wish that the Western nations continue actively supporting Ukraine regardless of what the United States does. It will save peace in Europe. We completely agree with the Ukrainians when they say support Ukraine, save peace in Europe." - Irina Vesikko

Full article by Yle in Finnish

Apart from the white-blue-white Russian anti-war flag and the Ukrainian flag, there is also an Ingrian Nordic cross flag. Ingria is the name of the area between Estonia and the Karelian Isthmus (St. Petersburg is located in Ingria). It is the homeland of the Izhorians, Votians, and Ingrian Finns. The Izhorians and Votians are the native residents of the land and Ingrian Finns are the descendants of Finnish immigrants introduced into the area in the 17th century.

Both Ingrian Finnish and Izhorian populations all but disappeared from Ingria during the Soviet period. 63,000 fled to Finland during World War II, and were required back by Stalin after the war. Most became victims of Soviet population transfers and many were executed as "enemies of the people".

Ingria Brakeless