Vandalism disrupts peace at ancient cemetery in Mikkeli, Finland

A 100-year-old spruce tree in Mikkeli has been vandalized with graffiti depicting a penis, while a swastika is also visible nearby. The defaced trees surround an ancient cemetery, which has itself fallen victim to similar acts of vandalism. Established in the 19th century, the cemetery has seen a rise in acts of disrespect, according to city gardener Marko Vuorinen, who doubts the vandals intended to disturb the peace of the graves.

“This is perhaps thoughtless and foolish, but it’s outrageous,” Vuorinen commented, noting that the final resting places have historically been left undisturbed. Currently, however, no burials are taking place in this park-like area.

Vandalized trees are unlikely to be cut down, even if they can’t be cleaned. The area is also home to various wildlife, including flying squirrels. Similar graffiti has been reported on trees throughout Mikkeli this summer, and the marks may prove permanent as the soft bark absorbs paint, making removal tricky. “We will try different methods to see if we can fade the paint, but it might not be possible,” Vuorinen speculated.

The city is considering filing a police report. According to Timo Häkkinen, a crime commissioner with Eastern Finland Police, identifying the culprit may be difficult without any evidence or surveillance footage. Often, graffiti artists can be traced via their signatures, but no identifiable markings have been found on the cemetery trees.

Vuorinen urges anyone with information about the vandals to come forward, expressing a desire to understand who is responsible for the misconduct. The cemetery has not faced such disrespectful behavior in decades, with previous incidents arising from unsanctioned activities linked to market events. “Maybe there was card playing involved,” Vuorinen speculated.