Spurred by the rising discontent, Finland's Foreign Minister presented a plan last week to limit tourist visas issued to Russians. I don't see any other way to make Russian politicians think," Lappeenranta local Antero Ahtiainen, 57, says.Īlthough he has nothing against individual tourists, Ahtiainen says his relationship with Russians has changed. "In my opinion, they should be restricted very strongly.
Many Russians visit Lappeenranta to shop for clothes and cosmetics, for example, and Russian number plates can be seen on numerous cars.īut tourism from its eastern neighbour has caused discontent in Finland due to the war in Ukraine.Ī poll published last week by Finnish public broadcaster Yle showed 58 percent of Finns in favour of restricting Russian tourist visas. "The aim is to express strong support for Ukraine and to condemn the war of aggression," Lappeenranta's Mayor Kimmo Jarva told AFP. The government and all people must understand this." Relationship changedĪlso in the nearby city of Lappeenranta, the Ukrainian national anthem is played every evening above its city hall, overlooking shopping centres popular with Russian tourists. Kosykh emphasises that there are Russians who do not like the war.
"But we understand the government of Finland," he says.
"This is bad for the Russians who love Finland," says Mark Kosykh, a 44-year-old Russian tourist who has come to see the rapids with his family. Even Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia, visited Imatrankoski in 1772.īut since the end of July, the city of Imatra has started the show by playing the Ukrainian national anthem, to protest the Russian invasion.įinland, which shares 1,300-kilometre (800-mile) eastern border with Russia, is also preparing to limit tourist visas issued for Russians. It is a popular attraction especially for Russian tourists. At the same time every day, the river's almost century-old dam is opened and water rushes under the bridge, to the sound of music by Finnish composer Jean Sibelius.
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