A statue of world peace donated by the Soviet Union sits in the industrial yard | News
The statue has stirred controversy for more than 30 years.
News of the controversial World Peace statue sitting outside in an industrial yard is raising eyebrows.
A reader contacted Yle when her child saw the statue of Sipoo in the corner of the industrial plot on Hiekkamäentie.
HAM did not respond to Yle’s interview request on Saturday. The museum and the city of Helsinki previously announced that they would decide on the final fate of the statue later.
In March, the city announced its intention to return the statue to Hakaniemenranta after the completion of the crown bridges. However, this no longer seems certain, as a hotel is now planned for the area.
The city of Moscow donated the statue to Helsinki in 1989. It was unveiled to the public in 1990. Even then, the statue sparked a lot of discussion.
After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the public debate about the statue has intensified.
A history of controversy
Since the statue was unveiled to the public in 1990, it has sparked controversy.
The statue was badly damaged when three students poured tar and feathers on it in 1991. Calling themselves the “Feather Group”, the trio wanted to make a statement that the gift of the Soviet Union did not belong in Helsinki.
The group belonged Mikael Jungnera law student who later became the CEO of Yleisradio Oy and a member of parliament.
In 2010, an attempt was made to blow up the statue with a gas cylinder, but it failed.