Finland restricts access to Russian archives until 9999

The National Archives of Finland restricted access to historical materials received from Russia within the framework of cooperation between the archives of the two countries.

Consensus

Finland has restricted access to historical materials from Russia.
The restriction applies to documents acquired from 2005 onward, covering the period 1500–1990.
The materials include approximately one million pages, such as drawings of Sveaborg Fortress from the early 20th century.
Access is currently limited to reading rooms at the National Archives of Finland.
The restriction has been in place since autumn 2022.
The restriction is set to last until the end of 9999.
The Finnish state budget allocated over one million euros for acquiring and copying these documents.
According to agreements, the materials should be accessible both in reading rooms and electronically.
Remote access is currently not available.

Points of divergence

The restriction was introduced in autumn 2022 and is intended to apply until the end of 9999. — ramio
The restriction was introduced in 2022, and the current director of the archive, Päivi Happonen, stated that the limitation is based on previously signed agreements. — fontanka
Professor Dmitry Frolov, former head of development and Russia relations at the National Archives, claimed that the archive may have engaged in self-censorship, and that the Federal Archival Agency of Finland opposed online access. — vedomosti
Former head of the National Archives, Yussi Nuorteva, questioned the legality of the restrictions and noted that a database on Soviet prisoners held in Finnish camps in Eastern Karelia (1941–1944) disappeared from the internet. — vedomosti
Professor Dmitry Frolov suggested the restriction might be self-censorship, as the documents were declassified in Russia. — vm
Päivi Happonen denied allegations of self-censorship and stated that the archive has not maintained contact with Russia since February 2022. — vedomosti
The removal of the database on Soviet prisoners was linked to information security risks amid accusations of genocide in Eastern Karelia. — vedomosti
The government has proposed extending border closure with Russia until December 31, 2028, citing 'instrumentalized migration' as a security concern. — m24

Coverage (6 sources)

Finland restricted access to historical materials from Russia until year 9999, reports Yle. — ТАСС (Telegram)
Finland restricted access to Russian archives until year 9999 — РИАМО
Finnish National Archive limited access to historical materials from Russia until the end of 9999 — Фонтанка
In Finland access to historical materials from Russia has been restricted until the year 9999 — Ведомости
Finland restricted access to Russian archives until year 9999 — Вечерняя Москва
Finland has restricted access to documents obtained from Russia until the year 9999 — Москва 24

Finland restricts access to Russian archives until 9999

Consensus

Points of divergence

Coverage (6 sources)

Key entities

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