The first event organized by Initiative FoReDi was the exhibition "Faces of Russian Resistance," which took place from February 17 to 22, 2024, in the center of Helsinki at Kansalaistori Square, near the Oodi library.
In the open air, portraits and stories of 16 Russians were displayed on construction barriers symbolizing prison bars. These individuals have already been convicted for protesting against the Putin regime and have been sentenced to prison or are awaiting trial. They are ordinary citizens who did not believe the false propaganda and refused to accept the invasion of a neighboring country. Among them are men and women, young and old, political activists, artists, scientists, students, fathers, and mothers.
The goal of the exhibition is to inform Finnish citizens about the fates of Russian political prisoners and to draw the attention of European society to the widespread human rights violations in Russia.
The installation of the exhibition was scheduled for February 16. Who could have imagined the significance this exhibition would ultimately take on, and how tragic that day would become? On that day, Alexei Anatolievich Navalny was murdered at the age of 46 in the high-security correctional colony No. 3 ("Polar Wolf") in the village of Kharp.
Late in the evening, while the installation was still underway, Finns could be seen arriving with flowers and candles at Alexei's photograph to express their condolences.
Members of the Finnish Parliament, Pekka Haavisto and Kimmo Kiljunen, attended the opening of the "Faces of Russian Resistance" exhibition.
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