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Protestors gather in Helsinki, Turku and Tampere on Monday

Most of Monday's marches were against the Russian war in Ukraine, as well as Turkey's incursion into Iraq and in support of the municipal strike.

Ihmisiä kokoontuneena mielenosoitukseen. Kyltti "Lakko". Punaiseen takkiin pukeutunut Helena Nieminen puhuu megafoniin.
Helena Nieminen, a city HR coordinator and local JHL union board member, leads demonstrators in Tampere on Monday. Image: Matias Väänänen / Yle
  • Yle News

A series of marches were held for a second day in various Finnish cities, many of them related to Russia's war in Ukraine.

Four separate demonstrations were held in front of the Russian Embassy in Helsinki on Monday. There was also a demonstration in central Helsinki in support of the municipal strike, which is drawing to an end, as well as a protest against Turkey's actions in Iraq.

A pro-Ukraine event was held at Mannerheim Square, in front of the Kiasma art museum, was held from 5 to 7 pm. Organisers have called for a daily event at the site until Friday.

The Finnish branch of Amnesty International staged a demonstration in support of Russian activists in front of the Russian Embassy on Tehtaankatu from 4 to 4.30 pm.

That was followed by two more anti-war protests against the Russian attack outside the embassy, including a "Peace in Ukraine" demonstration that is to be held daily from 6 to 8 pm until 18 May.

Another peace march, originally scheduled for Senate Square at 5 pm, was cancelled, police said.

In the southwestern city of Turku, about 200 people gathered in front of the Russian consulate on Monday afternoon to mourn the victims of the Russian attack. They sang songs, recited poems and laid flowers at the site.

Article continues after photo

Suuri määrä ihmisiä kokoontuneena mielenilmaukseen Venäjän konsulaatin edustalle Turussa.
Hundreds gathered in Turku in memory of the war victims. Image: Arttu Kuivanen / Yle

Speakers included Bishop Mari Leppänen of the Lutheran Archdiocese of Turku. She and Archbishop Tapio Luoma later joined locals to sing hymns and laments on the steps of Turku Cathedral event on Monday evening.

Demonstrators support strike and Kurds

In addition to the protests related to the war in Ukraine, a demonstration in support of the week-long municipal strike was held at Citizens' Square in the early afternoon.

There was also a large march in the south-central city of Tampere in support of the strike, which was to end on Monday. A settlement proposal for the municipal wage dispute was expected on Tuesday.

In the capital, meanwhile, a protest against Turkish actions in Iraqi Kurdistan was also held at Kamppi Square during the afternoon.

According to Helsinki Police Chief Superintendent Heikki Porola, police were not notified of any events on Monday celebrating Russia's Victory Day in Helsinki.

A day earlier, though, a small pro-Russia convoy of motorists drove through the centre of Helsinki waving Russian and Finnish flags.

That was one of seven demonstrations in downtown Helsinki on Sunday – six of which were in some way related to the war in Ukraine.