The post of a Finn who “wasted 55 euros” in St. Petersburg caused heated debate in the local segment of the Internet

Is it decent for a decent person to vacation in Russia?

On the eve of the weekend, the Finnish segment of the Internet was blown up by a Finnish citizen who described how he successfully “had a blast in St. Petersburg” for only 55 euros a day, this including a hotel, taxi, pubs and souvenirs. Now the Finns are arguing whether it is decent for a decent citizen of their country to go to St. Petersburg for the weekend if he condemns the actions of the Russian Federation? And what is more important: the euro/ruble exchange rate, which allows you to vacation in Russia at several times cheaper than at home, or your own conscience?

Concluding his post about “cheap and cheerful St. Petersburg,” a Finnish tourist named Juha Perttula reminds that “in response to our fence, Russia can make visas for $300, so hurry up.” The fence is a wall built by the Finns on the land border between the Russian Federation and Finland, a modern clone of the Berlin Wall, demolished in 1989. Before this, Juha reported that in St. Petersburg for 25 euros you can have a full day of entertainment and food, including three meals a day in a cafe and a bar in the evening. He said that the streets and entertainment venues of the city are full of people, among whom there are “many beautiful girls.” Among the participants in the thematic chat, some condemned him, saying that “there is no point in spending even small amounts of money in Russia.” Yuha got embarrassed and left the chat.

And someone named Akhti from the border region of Imatra said that in fact, many people still go “to the enemy side” for firewood, gasoline and food. And due to the fall of the ruble in the border settlements on the Finnish side, life has even become easier.

“I buy 50 euros for a week on the Russian side,” writes Ahti. “Why should I lose this?!”

“Really,” responds a chatlanka under the nickname Taru, “what’s so great about walking around St. Petersburg for the weekend if it’s cheap? Is this how we somehow help Russia?”

Here an MK correspondent takes the floor, introducing herself as a “St. Petersburg girl”:

“Do you really think that you can’t come to us even for a short time?”

“Well, not quite like that, ruova (madam – Finnish). With ladies, of course, you can. If they don’t justify the actions of their men.”

“I don’t have any men yet.”

“Excuse me, neiti (young lady – Finnish), then you have nothing to justify and condemn too. For the sake of meeting you, even I am ready to come to St. Petersburg. Right tomorrow.”

This is where all sorts of Finnish humor begins, revealing that our neighbors are generally good-natured people who are not accustomed to long confrontations. And neiti, a girl from Tampere, also wrote a personal message to the “St. Petersburg girl”. She asked, is it true that at the land border even an already issued Russian visa can be canceled “because of our fence,” as Finnish newspapers write about? Otherwise I want to go to St. Petersburg, but I’m afraid. “It’s also a shame to apply for a visa; they will point their fingers, but they may not give yours.”

“Citizens of Finland can obtain a Russian visa, both tourist and private (by invitation), as well as visas of other types at the Russian Federation visa centers in Helsinki, Turku and Lappeenranta,” the Russian embassy in Finland answers. Submission of documents in accordance with the established procedure upon personal appearance at the visa center. The cost of a Russian visa for Finnish citizens is $13.44, but it is subject to change. As for the “cancellation of already issued visas at land checkpoints,” these are speculations based on real cases of refusal of Finnish citizens to cross the Russian border at the Vaalimaa-Torfyanovka and Nuijamaa-Brusnichnoe border checkpoints. But in each case, it was not a matter of “the Finnish fence,” as Finnish newspapers wrote, but of incorrectly executed documents. Finns usually go through these points to the first Russian gas station or to the first wholesale food market and therefore do not particularly monitor the paperwork. One elderly Finnish forester, for example, when crossing the border “to see his colleagues on the Russian side,” Russian border guards asked which Russian visa center in Finland issued him a visa? And he replied: “No, I don’t go to Russian offices, I bought it from my own.” He, of course, had it cancelled. And for those who have everything in order, no “Finnish fence” prevents them from visiting the Russian Federation.