Finnish-Russian individuals share experiences of identity and resilience amid geopolitical tensions
In Finland, there are tens of thousands of Finnish-Russian individuals, with roots tracing back to Russia. Many of them hold significant positions in society. Three of these individuals share their thoughts on what being Russian means to them today.
Sergey Hilman, a 30-year-old social media influencer born in Kostamus, Russia, moved to Finland with his mother at the age of 12. They settled in Juuka, North Karelia, where he initially spoke no Finnish. Hilman recalls his early days in Finland as incredibly difficult, marked by bullying and racism. He was subjected to mockery, exclusion, and theft. Although moving to Kuopio and then Helsinki helped, issues of discrimination have persisted, especially intensified in recent years following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Politician Tarja Filatov, 61, also shares her experiences. As the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, she reveals her Finnish-Russian heritage, with roots tracing back to when her ancestors were forced to flee during wars. She frequently hears negative comments about her Russian heritage and received hate mail accusing her of supporting Putin’s regime since the invasion. Despite these controversies, she asserts her loyalty to Finland, highlighting that her ancestors fought for the country during conflicts.
The translator and writer Tommi Uschanov, 49, notes that his family settled in Hämeenlinna after being displaced from Karelia. He emphasizes that his Russian heritage is a minor detail in his background, and he strives to view all individuals, regardless of nationality, as unique persons. Uschanov also points out the paradox of responding to the threat from Russia by adopting similar negative behaviors, cautioning against oversimplified views of complex historical relationships.
These voices capture the struggle and resilience of the Finnish-Russian community amid ongoing geopolitical challenges.