Russian media giving in to Finnish government pressure

There is a real storm brewing in Russia over comments made by Finnish Moscow-based lawyer, Jon Hellevig.

He and another Russian-based lawyer, Peter Iiskola have been outspoken in speaking out against the craven russophobic attitudes of the government of Finland.

I have not been following this closely but will provide the story as best as I can.

Jon was interviewed by Sputnik News over Finland's paranoia (along with Sweden's) in seeing secret Russian submarines, presumably ready to invade Finland (and everywhere else you can poke a stick)

Here is the article from Sputnik News

Stockholm Syndrome: Finland Starts Seeing 'Secret Submarines'

Sputnik News,

28 April, 2015

Finland's "submarine" incident on Tuesday could be the spread of long-standing Swedish paranoia about "Russian submarines" to the country, Finnish political analyst Jon Hellevig told Sputnik.

Finland's "unidentified underwater object" incident is a propaganda tactic often employed in Sweden and could be used to influence how the newly elected government is formed, Finnish political commentator Jon Hellevig told Sputnik.

On Tuesday, Finland's navy dropped warning charges on an unidentified underwater object. Finnish defense officials have not commented on the suspected origin of the what the country's Defense Minister said could be a submarine.

Swedish retired submarine forces commander Goran Frisk told a Swedish newspaper that, "it's clear it's Russians." Sweden itself had a suspected submarine incident in October where the suspected "submarine" was found to be a Swedish vessel. Sweden tripled its defense budget increase before admitting that there was no Russian submarine.

Old Tactics

According to Jon Hellevig, the incident itself is an example of a tactic that has been used in Sweden for decades.

"This no surprise, because we know for 30-40 years Sweden has used imaginary Russian subs as a propaganda tactic to raise Russia fears. It could be very possible that they are using that card," Hellevig told Sputnik.

"Submarine hunts," or as they are called in Swedish, "ubåtsjakten," in the singular form, have been used to propel the country's strategy at least since the 1980s, according to Hellevig.

"It's clear it's Russians, who else could it have been? They have shown before their aggression in Sweden on a number of occasions, and we have recognized them, so [what happened] is no coincidence," retired submarine commander Goran Frisk told Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet.

Goran Frisk said the underwater object incident is a sign that "the danger is lurking" because it is also, according to him, the first time that Finland has used underwater charges.

Political Maneuvers

Hellevig believes that the incident could be used to influence the formation of Finland's new government. Despite the Centre Party's official position being against Finland joining NATO, many of the recently elected parliamentarians do support NATO, according to Hellevig.

"The mainstream media in Finland has a strong grip on the public and the leadership. Of course they can use media hype for anti-Russian sentiment," Hellevig said.

The newly formed Finnish coalition is also planning on hiking defense spending in the country. The current chief of the Finnish military, Gen. Jarmo Lindberg, said last week that Russia has "done nothing" to pose a threat to Finland and that the two countries need to improve their relationship.

"It is very possible that this will influence how the government is formed," Hellevig added.

This attracted the interests of the US publication, Newsweek which interviewed both Hellevig and Iiskola.

Finnish military preparing 900,000 reservists for 'crisis situation'

Newsweek,

1 May, 2015

Updated | The Finnish Defence Forces are to send letters to all 900,000 of the country's reservists at the beginning of this month, informing them what their role would be in a "crisis situation", causing a row over whether such a move is necessary.

Finland, with its population of 5.2 million, has a small professional army of 16,000. Yet in the event of mobilisation, Finland could call on its former conscripts to fight. Finland's wartime military strength is 230,000.

According to local media reports, the decision was announced via a television advert, telling the nation's reservists "We want to have a word with you", and warning former conscripts that "Conscription is the cornerstone of Finland's defence capability."

The letter will reportedly inform reservists between the ages of 20-60 what their role would be in a "crisis situation". The letter also asks them to send up-to-date details of their whereabouts.

The director of communications of the Finnish Defence Forces, Mika Kalliomaa, denied any link to a threat from Russia, with whom Finland shares a 1,300km (800 mile) border. "The sending out of these letters to our reservists has no connection to the security situation around Finland," he said. "We are simply keeping ties with our reservists and asking them what their role would be in an instance of war, and asking them if there is new knowledge we should know about. There is no link to any threat from Russia."

Last year, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said in an interview with the Washington Post: "We have a long history with Russia — not that peaceful all the time. So everything the Russians are doing, surely the Finns notice and think very carefully about what that might mean."

In the case of the recent air incursions, he said, the message was clear: "They were testing how we'd react." Finland boosted the readiness of its airforce following an increase in Russian incursions into its airspace.

According to Peter Iiskola, a former Finnish district court judge and journalist, it is the first time such a letter has been sent out. "It is extraordinary and is clearly intended to make people feel there is a Russian threat and that 'pre-mobilization' steps must be taken," he says. Yet Iiskola believes that rather than responding to a genuine threat from Russia, the Finnish military is hoping to instigate panic and encourage the soon-to-be-formed government to spend more on defence.

Similar rumours surfaced earlier this week, after Finland's navy dropped depth charges in waters near Helsinki as a warning to what they believed to be a foreign submarine.

While the Finnish defence minister refused to be drawn on whether the submarine was Russian or not, the media quickly drew that conclusion.

"They haven't said it was Russia but who else would it be?" says Patrik Oksanen, political editor of Sweden's Hudiksvalls Tidning newspaper. "It's Russia. It's logical it was Russian. It's also not in Finnish national interests to make this story well known. Their track record response on these sorts of matters is to handle it without having it public while it happens and then a have a low level of debate. They would have preferred for it to be a non-story, although Finland is well aware they need to increase spending, and need public opinion for that."

After Finland's Centre party took the most seats in recent national elections, it is widely expected that a centre-Right government will be formed between Centre, True Finns and National Coalition. The Centre and Finns are Finland's two leading pro-defence parties.

Finland is not a Nato member, but it has strengthened its ties with the Western military alliance since the crisis in Ukraine erupted. Public opinion is against joining Nato, according to polls conducted last year.

In contrast to the newly formed government, a huge pro-Nato campaign is underway from the country's military chiefs, according to Iiskola. "In case you do not get a real war, then you at least get more money for the defence," he remarks.

But Oksanen said the Finnish navy's response had been a low key signal to Russia, designed to send the message that "'we have spotted you and are warning you to get out of here' without trying to make any more fuss than that".

The crypto-fascist government of Finland (and we all know how this goes in our own respective countries) obviously took  exception to the comments and to references to Finnish prime minister, Alexander Stubb, "Nazi-whore" and approached Newsweek who edited out their interview with Jon Hellevig.

The comments were admittedly pretty inflammatory and I would not use the 'nazi'-word to describe any of the "liberal" fascists of the west - but don't we live in democratic societies (lol) where we have freedom of expression (lmao)?!

So the News week article finishes with the following:

This article was edited to update a response from the Finnish defence ministry and include comments from the Finnish president and Patrik Oksanen. Comments from Jon Hellevig were also removed after previous offensive remarks were brought to our attention.

Correction: This article originally stated that the Centre party and True Finns had formed a coalition. Negotiations are in fact on-going.

Obviously, Newsweek were not the only ones contacted by the Finnish authorities for Jon was contacted by RT:

From: Belko Vladimir [mailto:vbelko@rttv.ru]

Sent: Monday, May 19, 2014 6:29 PM

To: 'Hellevig@awaragroup.com'

Subject: urgent matter re:SPIEF-14

Importance: High

Dear Mr. Hellewig !

Due to recent unfortunate news development I have to personally ask you to withdraw from RT’s panel in Saint Petersburg scheduled for May,22nd .

I’ d rather abstain from commenting further on the real issues behind the decision, but RT ‘s reputation and legitimacy as a serious and responsible media outlet may be put at risk.

Sincerely,

Vladimir Belko,

RT Deputy Editor-in-Chief,

Director, RT English Program Dept.

Not surprisingly, Jon has been more than slightly upset by the failure of the Russian media to defend him and for caving in to Finnish government demands.

Must say that even without Nokia the Finnish foreign ministry knows a thing or two about CONNECTING PEOPLE. So let's wrap this up. Jon H is interviewed for RT, Russian propaganda, and then for Newsweek, NWO propaganda. Jon H is interviewed not because he is any one Joe-or-Ivan-six-pack but cause he is a specialist in a relevant subject. Then tiny Finland's propaganda media and foreign ministry gets mad at Jon cause he exposes their lies in Russian propaganda media, then said propaganda media dutifully acknowledges their misstake and block Jon H as requested by Finland's propaganda apparatus (that is the name of the game). Then a year later Jon H speaks with the enemy propaganda at Newsweek and the Finnish propaganda apparatus blocks him again this time in the West for the opposite reason. My head is whirling in this propaganda merry-go-around. And always this same gang of screaming and wheezing Finnish propagandists led by Erkki Tuomioja. Must say that even without Nokia Finnish foreign ministry knows a thing or two about connecting people.

Some very unpleasant things have happened in the last 48 hours to Jon and he feels that he has been sold out by RT, Sputnik and a media that he feels is run by a Fifth Column.

He has announced his intention to sue, not only Newsweek but RT as well.

I am not in a position to see things clearly enough to come out definitively one way or the other and would be the first to see that the state interests of Russia do not allow them to come out aggressively against neighboring countries like Finland.

However, it does rather tarnish the reputation of Russian media like RT. As a personal note, I have to say that I have noticed a gradual change in RT which in general has lost the 'sting in its tail" - one reason why I look more to Sputnik and alternative opinion in Russia.

If for no other reason than to defend the right of someone to express a well-thought - out opinion (even while dispensing with certain niceities), I support Jon Hellevig.

Finally, to acquaint yourselves with the man himself is an interview on CCTV from about a year ago.

PS THIS is the link to Jon Hellevig's Facebook page

And a book that he has written, Putin's New Russia, is available HERE

Bio: 

Jon Hellevig is a business consultant and economic and political observer.

He has made his carrier in Russia since year 1992 when he worked as financial controller and lawyer for a Russian-American joint venture in the oil transport business and later in the same capacity with Armstrong World Industries, USA.

In 1998 Jon became the founding partner and CEO for Awara Group which offers in Russia consulting and outsourcing services in the fields of accounting, taxation, law and other areas of business administration.

Gradually during the last ten years Jon has become increasingly involved in social, political and economic debate.

He is the co-editor and co-author of Putin’s New Russia and several books on philosophy and political and social sciences, which can be accessed on his personal web site.

Jon is a frequent and incisive contributor in all these topics especially in their relation to Russia while he also continues his professional carrier.

He has a Master of Laws from the University of Helsinki and has a MBA diploma from a joint program of Bristol University and l'École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées, Paris.

Hellevig is fluent in English, Russian, Finnish and Swedish and has a working knowledge of French, Spanish and German.