Vandalism|Vandalism has been committed at the grave site of Soviet prisoners of war in Kiviko, Helsinki, twice in May by daubing the memorial with paint.
Helsinki The grave site of Soviet prisoners of war in Kiviko has been vandalized twice in May, the Regional Administrative Agency (avi) informs. 34 Soviet soldiers are buried in the cemetery, most of them prisoners of war camps.
A criminal report has been filed for vandalism. The Helsinki police have recorded the criminal complaint as damage and breach of peace.
“The police have started a preliminary investigation into the matter. Any additional information related to the matter can be reported to the police,” says the crime commissioner Ville Niskanen in the announcement of avi.
According to Avi, Finland is committed to taking care of the graves of Soviet soldiers and prisoners of war on Finnish territory, which is based on an agreement between Finland and Russia.
Of the war dead Chairman of the Association for the Remembrance of Memories Pertti Suominen is upset about the vandalism committed in Kivikko.
“At the beginning of May, red paint was spread on the monument, which was cleaned by the Russian embassy. Vandalism was done again at the end of last week a little more, and the Eastern Finland Regional Administration Office is responsible for cleaning it up,” Suominen tells HS.
Suominen also states that Finland’s obligation is to take care of the Soviet graves in the area.
“Of course, one can guess the reasons that have led to the vandalism.”
Finnish according to the vandalism may have an effect on how the grave sites and monuments of Finnish soldiers are viewed in Russia.
“Does it harm our conditions to ensure that the grave sites there remain in good condition? A particularly big concern is the cemeteries of the parishes in the ceded area, which have already been targeted with vandalism and other things.”
The Russian authorities interpret the status of Finnish soldiers’ cemeteries differently than the Finns.
“They think they are not protected in the same way as we think. However, the State Treaty is still valid and is important to both parties. If this kind of vandalism then leads to the treaty losing its meaning, then of course it’s a problem,” says Suominen.
“Vandalism has far-reaching consequences, and of course it’s embarrassing.”
Of the war dead the memory care association is responsible for the practical actions of the state agreement in Finland. The task of maintaining the graves is handled by the Regional Administrative Office of Eastern Finland by entering into maintenance contracts with various parties.
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