President Stubb visits Åland Islands as Russian film crew captures footage for Rossiya-1 channel

Last week, Russia’s state television channel Rossiya-1 covered the visit of Finnish President Alexander Stubb to the Åland Islands. A film crew followed President Stubb’s representative boat, the Kultaranta VIII, as it departed from Mariehamn after his visit. According to Ilta-Sanomat, the crew also filmed Stubb at the market square in Mariehamn.

President Stubb visited the Åland Islands for the first time on Tuesday, August 13. The presence of the film crew attracted significant attention in Åland, with coverage by various local media such as Yle Svenska, Åland Radio, and the newspaper Hufvudstadsbladet (HBL).

The television program will address why some Finns would like to militarize the Åland Islands. HBL inquired about the activities of the Russian film crew with the Finnish Security Intelligence Service (Supo) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to authorities, this is a case of information influence.

Supo indicated that the filming is aimed at the Russian domestic audience, intending to shape perceptions of Finland. They commented to HBL via email, noting that filming in public places is allowed in Finland. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also mentioned in an email to HBL that the program pertains to information manipulation.

“The aim is to influence perceptions of Finland and NATO while reinforcing a false narrative,” the ministry stated. They emphasized that while the content is directed at a Russian audience, it also seeks to generate conflict and confusion in Finland and the West. Notably, the Rossiya-1 channel is on the EU sanctions list, which restricts the dissemination of propaganda but does not prohibit data collection or interviews within the EU.