The bench dedicated to poisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was unveiled on what would have been his 50th birthday.
A memorial bench in honour of opposition leader Alexei Navalny was unveiled this week in Helsinki’s Neitsytpuisto Park, close to the Russian Embassy on Tehtaankatu.
The memorial bench was unveiled on Thursday, when Navalny would have turned 50.
The project was led by the Initiative for Resistance and Dialogues, a group of Russian activists in Finland who oppose President Vladimir Putin‘s policies.
– The monument in Helsinki not only honours Navalny but also shows that there are many Russian-speaking people who want to live in peace, freedom and democracy, the group’s chair, Nikita Kirillov, told Yle.
Helsinki chose site next to Russian embassy
At the suggestion of city authorities, the bench was placed so as to be visible from the windows of the Russian Embassy.
The monument was unveiled by Vladislav Romantsov, CEO of the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), founded by Navalny.
He recalled that Putin always tried not to mention Navalny’s name in public and only did so once – after Navalny was murdered.
According to Romantsov, the name of the late opposition leader cannot be silenced, which Russian Embassy staff will now remember whenever they see the memorial bench.
MP Kimmo Kiljunen (SDP) and former European Parliament VP and international development minister Heidi Hautala (Green) also spoke at the event.
Navalny died from second poisoning in prison
Navalny was known as Putin’s most prominent, vocal opponent.
He died in February 2024 at a penal colony in northwestern Siberia.
According to Western experts, Navalny was poisoned with a rare poison dart frog. Western governments hold the Russian government responsible for his death.
In 2020, the Russian security service poisoned Navalny with the Soviet-era Novichok nerve agent. Navalny survived that attempt after being treated at a hospital in Berlin. He then voluntarily returned to Russia to continue his anti-corruption campaign.
