The people of Petrozavodsk said that politics is a matter for politicians and that ordinary people have good relations.
20:54•Updated 21:00
PETROSKOI As in other parts of Russia, the capital of the Republic of Karelia also commemorated with celebrations the day when the Russian leadership announced that it would annex the Crimean peninsula, occupied by Ukraine, into Russia.
In the middle of the war in Ukraine, the Russian authorities are trying to raise the same fervent patriotic feelings in the citizens as in 2014.
At least for pensioners born in the Soviet Union, this seemed to work to some extent.
– For our family, this is a double celebration, because my husband’s birthday is also on March 18, Irina Trifonova said and told that they have relatives in Crimea.
– For me, Crimea is another country of birth, because I spent my childhood years there, Sergei Trifonov said.
Speeches and musical performances were heard in Kirov square in front of the Music Theater in Petrozavodsk, and trips to the Crimea were raffled off.
At the same time, neighboring Finland is approaching NATO membership.
The Petroskoians we interviewed made a distinction between the politics of states and the mutual relations of their citizens.
Irina Trifonova said that the bad relations between Finland and Russia are painful for the residents of both countries.
He believed that common sense would prevail and the relations between the countries would return to the way they were before. Sergei Trifonov said that as a Karelian by nationality, he thinks that Finns and Karelians are like brothers.
from Petrozavodsk Galina Ryzhohina said that relations with Finns are normal. He criticized the Finnish government.
– In my opinion, the desire to join NATO is straining relations, he said.
– What does the Finnish government want? Bring tanks to our border so that NATO can come here?
Galina Ryžohina said she supports the so-called military special operation, as Russia calls its war against Ukraine.
He said that everywhere Russians are accused of all evil, the Russian language is viewed negatively and statues of writers are knocked down.
That has been the message that Russian state television channels have been telling the citizens in spades.
from Petrozavodsk Anatoly Zakadyrkin said that he believed that Finns and Russians have a warm relationship with each other.
Finland’s NATO intentions did not faze him.
– It’s not my business, let it be decided at a higher level. People remain people. In NATO or not in NATO, what does it matter? Zakadyrkin pondered.
– We ordinary residents do not have any aggressive moods towards the residents of Finland or Sweden.
The head of the Republic of Karelia also gave a speech at the event Artur Parfenshikov. He had no business with and Finland.