A Finland-based pro-Ukrainian group Totuuden Vuoksi has purchased an advertisement space for a memorial for Alexey Navalny in Imatra for a week. They specifically wanted it for the date of Navalny's funeral. The group has previously purchased similar by-the-road advertisement spaces for pro-Ukraine messages that have sometimes been vandalised.
Imatra is a Finnish town near Russia, formerly favoured by Russian tourists shopping in Finland. The town also has a population of Russian immigrants.
The name Totuuden Vuoksi is a pun meaning “for the sake of the truth” or “tide/flood of truth”. Vuoksi is also the name of the river flowing through Imatra from Lake Saimaa to Lake Ladoga.
Flowers and a candle were left at the scene on Friday.
According to an anonymous Totuuden Vuoksi member, the local Russians avoid talking about the war. In his opinion, the local Finns in contrast have less fear of Russia as they can see how the sanctions have affected Russia.
"Fear is Russia's most effective weapon against us. Russia ought to be stripped off of this weapon," he says.
Article by Yle in Finnish
