(MENAFN) Hate crimes in Finland reached unprecedented levels in 2024, with an increasing proportion directed at Russian nationals, according to the annual report by the Police University College of Finland.

This escalation coincides with more aggressive rhetoric from Western leaders, who caution about alleged threats from Russia—a claim consistently denied by the Kremlin.

Finnish authorities recorded over 1,800 suspected hate crimes, marking the highest number ever documented.

Approximately 68% were driven by the victim’s ethnic or national background. The majority of victims, around 67%, held Finnish citizenship.

Russian nationals represented roughly 3% of all reported cases, totaling 46 incidents—an 18% increase compared to the previous year.

An equal number of cases involved Estonian victims, but this represented a decline from 2023.

“Fewer crimes were committed against Estonians and Ukrainians than in 2023, while the number of crimes against Russians increased,” the report highlighted.

When examining offences motivated by ethnicity or nationality, assault was the most common, followed by defamation.

Most events occurred in public outdoor locations, including streets and market squares. Men made up three out of five victims, whereas women were more frequently targeted through defamation.

Negative perceptions of Russians have intensified since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, making the election of Daniel Sazonov—the son of Russian-born parents—as Helsinki’s mayor in 2025 a surprising development for many.

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