Most Russians see Finland positively

Almost three out of four (71%) Russians have a positive or a very positive attitude towards Finland, according to a survey conducted by Finnish missions to Russia.

In summer 2019, the Finnish Embassy in Moscow and the Finnish Consulate General in St Petersburg commissioned the survey examining what kind of perceptions Russian people have of Finland, said a press release issued by Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Compared to the previous survey, the proportion of those who have a positive attitude towards Finland has increased by three percentage points (2017: 68%).

In numbers, the increase is about 3.5 million adult citizens. The proportion of those who have a negative attitude towards Finland has declined from ten to five per cent, which in numbers means around six million people less than in 2017.

Attitudes towards Finland are most positive among young people (18–24-year-olds: 78%) and residents of large cities. As many as 86 per cent of people living in Moscow and 95 per cent of people living in St Petersburg have a positive or a very positive attitude towards Finland.

Respondents described the relations between Finland and Russia as normal and peaceful, good and neighbourly, and amicable (69%).

The relations were described as cool or tense by 14 per cent of respondents. Russians mention Finland's accession to NATO (29%) and tightening of the EU's sanctions policy against Russia (23%) as potential actions that could significantly undermine the relations between Finland and Russia. One in three Russians (32%) are unable to specify any actions that could significantly undermine the relations between the countries.

The first things that come to Russians’ mind when they think about Finland are nature (18%), sauna (14%), tourism (14%) and high standard of living (14%). The majority of associations that Russians attach to Finland are positive. The Finnish persons who most often come to Russians’ mind are Ville Haapasalo, the Kaurismäki brothers, Mika Häkkinen, Kimi Räikkönen, Tove Jansson and Mannerheim.

Russians also have positive perceptions of Finnish society. The most common answers to the question ‘In your opinion, what are the characteristics of Finnish society’ are high standard of living (29%), freedom (21%), welfare state (18%), and democracy (18%). The most frequently mentioned negative features are reservedness (10%), nationalism (8%) and lack of principles, cynicism (4%).

In Finland, Russians are most interested in nature (40%), tourism and shopping (21%), and culture and arts (17%). Over the past two years, the interest in Finnish nature and Finnish people’s relationship with nature has increased by 11 percentage points. More than half of the respondents living in St Petersburg (54%) expressed their interest in Finnish nature.

Fifteen per cent of Russians say they would be interested in moving to Finland if they were offered such an opportunity. On the other hand, 83 per cent are not interested in moving to Finland.

Almost half of Russians describe Finland as an impartial, neutral state

Almost half of Russians (45%) describe Finland as an impartial (neutral) state. Twelve per cent of respondents consider NATO to be a close cooperation partner for Finland, and one in ten people describe Finland as a militarily non-aligned state. Seven per cent of respondents believe that Finland is a member of NATO.

The interviews of the nationwide survey took place at the turn of June and July, and 1,600 Russians from different parts of Russia responded. In St Petersburg and Leningrad Oblast, the interviews were conducted at the turn of July and August. Both surveys were carried out by the research company Levada Market Research. The margin of error is 3.4%.