Finlands uneasy relationship with its neighbour
How has Finland survived so long as an independent European country, up close to Russia, its aggressive neighbour? Over the decades it\u2019s learnt to live with both the Soviet Union and then post-communist Russia next door and to benefit from the cross-border trade it offered. But Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine has changed attitudes in Finland, seen most clearly in its decision to join Nato. \n \nIn this edition of Assignment, we report from the border towns of Lappeenranta and Imatra \u2013 which have gained economically from Russians crossing into Finland as tourists, for trade, to buy property and simply to go shopping. Now Russian tourist visas have been banned by the Finnish Government and the local mayor says the region is losing a million euros every day. \n \nThe country\u2019s army has male conscription, defence spending is at NATO levels and Finland\u2019s cities have underground shelters to protect its population.
Caroline Bayley looks at Finland\u2019s relationship with Russia \u2013 past and present \u2013 and asks what\u2019s next for these uneasy neighbours.\n \nProducer/presenter Caroline Bayley\nEditor Penny Murphy\nStudio Engineer Rod Farquhar\nProduction co-ordinator Helena Warwick-Cross
(Photo: Almost deserted border post on Finland\u2019s border with Russia. Credit: Caroline Bayley)