Poet Daniil Kozlov: Russian language and culture should be supported in Finland, not shunned

Finnish-Russian poet and writer Daniil Kozlov advocates for the embrace and support of the Russian language and culture within Finland, asserting that its rejection plays into the hands of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Kozlov believes that fostering Russian identity is crucial for integrating the Finnish-Russian community into Finnish society and countering feelings of alienation.

"Fear of Russianness, Russian culture and language, and reducing or avoiding its use can erect new walls between Finnish and Russian speakers and create a sense of otherness," Kozlov stated. He argues that such divisions weaken Finland's resilience against external influences and undermine social cohesion.

Kozlov's perspective emphasizes that acknowledging and supporting Russian language and culture does not equate to endorsing political actions by the Russian government. Instead, he sees it as a means to strengthen Finland by integrating its diverse population and leveraging the linguistic and cultural assets of its Russian-speaking citizens. This approach, he contends, is more effective in countering potential Russian influence than isolation or suppression.

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Fear of Russianness, Russian culture and language, and reducing or avoiding its use can erect new walls between Finnish and Russian speakers and create a sense of otherness.