A Finnish museum originally dedicated to Vladimir Lenin, the Russian Soviet leader, has reopened under a new name and with new exhibits. This change comes in response to the strained relations between Finland and Russia following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The museum, which was initially known as the Lenin Museum and had closed in November, has been renamed Nootti, the Finnish word for a diplomatic note.
The museum, located in Tampere, was established in 1946 after the second world war, intending to symbolize post-war friendship between the two countries. Its location was chosen to honor the first meeting between Lenin and Stalin, who met in Tampere as young communist leaders. The museum evolved during the cold war into a place for diplomacy and later focused on Soviet history in 2016.
In light of recent geopolitical events, including Finland’s quick move to join NATO following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent closure of their shared border due to diplomatic tensions, the museum decided it was time for a dramatic update. The museum introduced new themes covering varied historical periods, including the collapse of the Russian empire, Finnish independence, the civil wars, Soviet reign terror, and Finland’s relationship with NATO.
Kalle Kallio, the museum’s director, explained that the Lenin name had become a burden in recent years. The museum now includes exhibits that depict the evolving relationship between Finland and Russia through various mediums, such as photographs, texts, videos, and historical artifacts. One notable exhibit is a bicycle used by an asylum seeker to cross the border in 2023.
The museum states that it aims to tell both Finnish and Russian stories without collaborating with the Russian state or Russian museums. Despite the fluctuating relationship between Finland and Russia, Kallio is confident that the museum’s new focus will ensure its relevance and importance for understanding the intertwined histories of the two nations. The museum is poised to continue documenting new developments in Finnish-Russian relations.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/10/goodbye-lenin-finnish-museum-reinvents-itself-in-response-to-shifting-relations-with-russia
