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===''Persona non grata'' in Estonia===
===''Persona non grata'' in Estonia===
On 26 April 2009, when Bäckman was on his way to speaking on a [[Bronze Night]] anniversary meeting, he was detained after his disembarkation off a ferry in [[Tallinn harbour]] and sent out of the country under an entry prohibition apparently enacted earlier in [[2009]]. While the precise reasons for the entry prohibition have not been released to the public by the Estonian Ministry of Internal Affairs, which is bound by the [http://www.riigiteataja.ee/ert/act.jsp?id=12909389 Private Data Protection Act], Bäckman claims they include his anti-Estonian activities. The lawful basis for applying an entry prohibition are enumerated in §29 of the [http://www.riigiteataja.ee/ert/act.jsp?id=13122612 Act on Obligation of Leaving and Prohibition of Entry].
On 26 April 2009, when Bäckman was on his way to speaking on a [[Bronze Night]] anniversary meeting, he was detained after his disembarkation off a ferry in [[Tallinn harbour]] and sent out of the country under an entry prohibition apparently enacted earlier in [[2009]]. The reasons for the entry prohibition have not been released to the public by the Estonian Ministry of Internal Affairs. Bäckman claims the reason is his criticism of the Estonian government. The lawful basis for applying an entry prohibition are enumerated in §29 of the [http://www.riigiteataja.ee/ert/act.jsp?id=13122612 Act on Obligation of Leaving and Prohibition of Entry].


According to [[Helsingin Sanomat]], prohibition against entry into Estonia by Finnish citizens is extremely rare. Previously such entry bans have been issued to some Finns suspected of connections with racist movements.<ref>{{Cite journal | title = Anti-Estonian Johan Bäckman refused entry at Port of Tallinn | journal = [[Helsingin Sanomat]] |language = English | date = 27 April, 2009 | accessdate = 2009-04-28 | url = http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Anti-Estonian+Johan+B%C3%A4ckman+refused+entry+at+Port+of+Tallinn/1135245495868 }}</ref>
According to [[Helsingin Sanomat]], prohibition against entry into Estonia by Finnish citizens is extremely rare. Previously such entry bans have been issued to some Finns suspected of connections with racist movements.<ref>{{Cite journal | title = Anti-Estonian Johan Bäckman refused entry at Port of Tallinn | journal = [[Helsingin Sanomat]] |language = English | date = 27 April, 2009 | accessdate = 2009-04-28 | url = http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Anti-Estonian+Johan+B%C3%A4ckman+refused+entry+at+Port+of+Tallinn/1135245495868 }}</ref>

Revision as of 10:42, 5 May 2009

Johan Bäckman
Born1971
NationalityFinnish
Alma materUniversity of Helsinki
Known forcontroversial views, pro-Russian statements, anti-fascist activity

Johan Bäckman (born in 1971) is a Finnish controversial political author, legal sociologist and criminologist, holding adjunct professorships in several Finnish universities[1][2].

He received his training in sociology and political history at the University of Helsinki, where he defended his Ph.D. in 2006, [3] and is now an adjunct professor in the sociology of law[4]. He is also an adjunct professor in criminology at the University of Turku[5] and the University of Joensuu. He has taught courses on the sociology of law, criminology, and Russian studies in several Finnish universities.

Bäckman has written about Finnish-Soviet relations during the Cold War, war history of Finland and the Soviet Union, organized crime in Russia and Estonia, the Russian Mafia, terrorism, and history of Estonia. As a spokesman for the Finnish Anti-Fascist Committee he has argued against what he calls "apartheid policies" of Estonia and Latvia.

Bäckman and Russia

Bäckman has frequently travelled to Russia since 1993,[6] and is fluent in Russian. In 2000, he established a publishing institution named the Johan Beckman Institute in Saint Petersburg.[7]

In March 2002, during a military historical festival in Suojärvi in the Republic of Karelia which was dedicated to the 62nd anniversary of the end of the Winter War, Bäckman made a sensational claim that the modern authorities of Finland propagated the idea that the Russian people is genetically inferior and expected Russia to collapse in about twenty years.[8][9] The other participants at the festival considered that he unreasonably overestimated the extent of anti-Russian sentiment in Finland.[10] According to Bäckman's article "Finland without a mask" (the title alludes to a 1943 proclamation by Otto Wille Kuusinen), published in Russian in May 2002, the Finns in general consider themselves a superior nation, all Russian women prostitutes, and all Russian men thieves and bandits.[11] During 2002, Bäckman gained an odious reputation both in Russia and among his Finnish colleagues.[12]

In 2002, Bäckman publicly accused the Foreign Ministry of Finland of Russophobia and racism. He claimed that the ministry was preparing a campaign to smear Russia and return the territories lost in the Paris Peace Treaty.[13]

In 2003, Johan Beckman Institute published the book Finland and the Siege of Leningrad 1941-1944 by the Russian historian Nikolai Baryshnikov. The Saint Petersburg legislature awarded Bäckman Marshal Govorov Literature Prize (2003) for that. Finnish historian Timo Vihavainen of the University of Helsinki labelled it "a book built on Stalinist propaganda stereotypes". Vihavainen also said that Baryshnikov had misunderstood some of the language in Finnish archive documents.[14] Bäckman and Baryshnikov threatened to sue Vihavainen. Bäckman is highly critical of the modern Finnish historiography of World War II and challenges the traditional Finnish ideas that Finland waged a separate Continuation War against the aggression of the USSR. According to Bäckman, the Finns participated in the Siege of Leningrad actively and asked Hitler to destroy the city. He speculates that Finland also planned an ethnic cleansing in Karelia in order to create a Fenno-Ugric superpower, possibly stretching as far as the Urals, or even to the river Yenisei, which he claimed is proven by vast amounts of documents and in several Finnish history books by Helge Seppälä, Osmo Hyytiä and Nikolai Baryshnikov.

File:Saatana Helsinkiin.jpg
In the pamphlet Finland washed with Anna Politkovskaya's blood Bäckman accuses the Finnish media of anti-Russian and anti-Putin sentiment.[15]

In his 2007 book "Finland washed with Anna Politkovskaya's blood"[16] (Finnish: Saatana saapuu Helsinkiin, Literally: Satan Arrives in Helsinki, which alludes to Saatana saapuu Moskovaan, the Finnish language title for The Master and Margarita by Bulgakov) he supported the conspiracy theory that Anna Politkovskaya assassination was organized by circles who wanted to smear the Russian president Vladimir Putin[17]. Bäckman even hints that Politkovskaya was depressed and ordered her own murder. According to Bäckman, Politkovskaya was an American agent. He also critizes Finns reaction to the murder of the Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya. Bäckman accused Finnish Green League politician Heidi Hautala and the Finnish media of inciting hatred towards Russia and Vladimir Putin. Hautala, depicted on the book cover (pictured), saw this as a smear campaign, but refused to take legal action, preferring to allow the book to speak for itself.[15]

Johan Bäckman admires Vladmir Putin, crediting all recent successes of Russia to Putin's personality and health.[18][19] He has compared Vladimir Putin to Cold War-era Finnish president Urho Kekkonen, and claimed he wishes Putin would likewise rule Russia for 26 years. He stated that Finland also needs organizations such as the pro-Kremlin Nashi and Walking Together.[18] According to Bäckman, the freedom of the press in Russia is considerably higher than in Finland, and Estonia is not free at all.[18]

Bäckman has denied that he is an agent of the FSB. A Finnish journalist Aila Niinimaa-Keppo was sentenced for libel after she accused Bäckman being a spy and traitor. Bäckman is now seeking for imprisonment for Keppo and also for Heidi Hautala, who claimed that Bäckman was spreading "FSB disinformation" with his book directed against her.[18]

Bäckman and Estonia

Bäckman has stated that Estonia "does not exist" as a sovereign state[20]. Bäckman's writings, published in Finland and Estonia, have been regarded as pro-Putin and anti-Estonian by the Estonian newspaper Eesti Ekspress.[21] In relation to Bäckman's controversial writings regarding Estonia, Bäckman is considered a Russian Federation's influence agent by Estonian counterintelligence.[22]

According to Bäckman, the Estonians and Finns are actually one nation and the Reublic of Estonia should be united with Finland where it could still have an autonomy.[23]

The Bronze Soldier book

In his highly controversial book about the Estonian Bronze Soldier Pronssisoturi: Viron patsaskiistan tausta ja sisältö, published in Finnish in 2008, Bäckman argues against what he calls "apartheid policies" of Estonia and Latvia. In his opinion, Estonian integration policies are "apartheid" and represent a "criminal discrimination of Russians"[17]. In the Bronze Soldier he dismissed the Soviet occupation of Estonia as a "Nazi myth".[24] Bäckman has gained wide publicity in Estonia for denying the Soviet occupation during 1940-1941 and 1944-1991:

"In my opinion speaking or writing of Soviet "occupation" should be criminalised as a form of racist propaganda. I demand five years prison sentence to everyone who dears (sic) to say Estonia was "occupied" by the Soviet Union."[25]

In connection to the publication of the book in September 2008, Bäckman gave several controversial interviews, e.g. one in which he claimed Estonia will join Russia within a decade.[17][26][27][28][29] Bäckman also claimed that the "destruction" of the Bronze Soldier grave site and monument in April 2007 by the Estonian government was "the end of history of Estonia". He speculated that most of the Russian youth all over Russia, including children, hate Estonia and deny her the right to exist. Bäckman went on to predict that in ten years at most, the Nashi would come to power in Russia, leading to an end of the Estonian statehood shortly afterwards.[17]

After the publication of the book, a number of Finnish and Estonian cultural figures, scholars, journalists and politicians, including Henrik Lax, Lasse Lehtinen and Sofi Oksanen, addressed the University of Helsinki in an open letter of protest, partly in relation to Bäckman teaching a course on "specialities of Estonian legal policy" in the Spring 2009 semester.[30] Bäckman immediately threatened to sue letter's authors for libel and later filed a criminal complaint, but Helsinki Police refused to open investigation[31]. The former minister of foreign affairs of Finland Dr. Erkki Tuomioja called Bäckman's book as "deliberate provocation", but condemned the open letter for violating the principles of freedom of speech.[32] The University of Helsinki distanced itself in a statement holding that Bäckman's political views are his own and do not represent the University's.[33][34]

Relations with Max Jakobson

Following the publication of the final report of the Estonian International Commission for Investigation of Crimes Against Humanity, Bäckman as part of the Finnish Anti-Fascist Committee claimed that its chairman, the Finnish diplomat and one-time UN Secretary-General candidate Max Jakobson, is the "ideological father of the criminal apartheid regime of Estonia",[35] and (according to Bäckman) that this ideology being maintained by official Estonia is Nazism.[36]

Bäckman arranged the "Nashi-protest" in March 23, 2009. The handful of demonstrators were the focus of attention for about 40 representatives of the media.[37]

The organisation led by Bäckman and his comrades, the Finnish anti-fascist committee, has declared Jakobson as "Misanthropist of the year 2009". According to the committee resolution, "Jakobson has actively spread anti-Russian propaganda in Finnish and Estonian media, and has strongly contributed to the loss of democratic rights of the people in Estonia by leading so-called "history commission", which aim was to label all Russians as "occupants" and deprive them from their citizenship".[38] In fact some 147,000 Russians have acquired Estonian citizenship since 1992, bringing down the proportion of stateless persons from 32% to around 8%.

Nashi protests in Helsinki

In March 2009 Bäckman as part of the Finnish Anti-Fascist Committee arranged a series of protests in Helsinki attended by activists of Russian Nashi, Night Watch, against what they called the opening [of] a new anti-Russian front of information warfare on the territory of Finland by [the] Estonian embassy. Also Abdullah Tammi and his followers from the prospective Finnish Islamic Party participated. The protests were aimed aganst seminars, against a book about the Soviet occupation of Estonia, and against films presented by the Estonian embassy in Finland, especially the film Soviet Story by Edvins Snore. [37]In media commentaries for Swedish, Finnish and Russian press, television and radio, Bäckman claimed that the Soviet Union did not occupy Estonia, and belittled the significance of the Soviet deportations from Estonia[37].

Counter-intelligence assessments

In the opinion of the Estonian counter-intelligence agency Kaitsepolitseiamet, Bäckman is "a Russian propagandist" spreading "disinformation" similar to the claims Moscow makes. The spokesman for the Kaitsepolitseiamet Andres Kahar added that Estonia is a free country, where marginals can publish their writings, and it is best to ignore them, even if they are foreigners. [39]

In March 2009, the newspaper Eesti Ekspress reported a link between Bäckman and the well-known Finnish neo-nazi Risto Teinonen, both of them knowing the alleged former KGB agent Vladimir Ilyashevich residing in Estonia, and all of them are linked to the young Muscovite historian Alexander Dyukov.[40] In the assessment by Kaitsepolitseiamet, Bäckman, Teinonen and Ilyashevich are working as a team with support from Moscow, attempting to undermine the names of many good people, the relations between Finland and Estonia, and the Republic of Estonia itself.[40]

Finnish counter-intelligence has not commented Bäckman publicly. Regarding Nashi-demonstrations organised by Bäckman in Helsinki March 2009, the Finnish security police spokesman replied they heard "rumours" about the demonstrations but would not comment on issues regarding free democratic activism.[41]

Persona non grata in Estonia

On 26 April 2009, when Bäckman was on his way to speaking on a Bronze Night anniversary meeting, he was detained after his disembarkation off a ferry in Tallinn harbour and sent out of the country under an entry prohibition apparently enacted earlier in 2009. The reasons for the entry prohibition have not been released to the public by the Estonian Ministry of Internal Affairs. Bäckman claims the reason is his criticism of the Estonian government. The lawful basis for applying an entry prohibition are enumerated in §29 of the Act on Obligation of Leaving and Prohibition of Entry.

According to Helsingin Sanomat, prohibition against entry into Estonia by Finnish citizens is extremely rare. Previously such entry bans have been issued to some Finns suspected of connections with racist movements.[42]

Politics

Bäckman has denied he is a communist, but at the same time he has said he admires so-called "Taistoists" of the 1970s, the hardline pro-Soviet faction in the Communist Party of Finland.[43] Bäckman is an independent candidate for European Parliament election in 2009 on the Workers Party of Finland list.[44]

Awards

The Legislative Assembly of Saint Petersburg awarded Bäckman Marshal Govorov Literature Prize (2004) for publishing the book Finland and the Siege of Leningrad 1941-1944 by the Russian historian Nikolai Baryshnikov.

Works

  • Bäckman, Johan (1996). Venäjän organisoitu rikollisuus. Helsinki: Oikeuspoliittinen tutkimuslaitos. ISBN 951-704-191-8.
  • Bäckman, Johan (1997). Liikkeenjohto Venäjän muutoksessa. Helsinki: WSOY. ISBN 951-0-21672-0.
  • Bäckman, Johan (1998). The inflation of crime in Russia: The social danger of the emerging markets. Helsinki: National Research Institute of Legal Policy. ISBN 951-704-211-6. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |Kieli= ignored (help)
  • Bäckman, Johan (1999). ”Sudella on sata tietä...”: Pietarin organisoitu rikollisuus Venäjän rikosoikeuskulttuurin kehyksessä. Helsinki: Oikeuspoliittinen tutkimuslaitos. ISBN 951-704-240-X.
  • Bäckman, Johan (2001). Entäs kun tulee se yhdestoista? Suomettumisen uusi historia. Helsinki: WSOY. ISBN 951-0-25654-4.
  • Bäckman, Johan (2006). Itämafia: Uhkakuvapolitiikka, rikosilmiöt ja kulttuuriset merkitykset. Espoo: Poliisiammattikorkeakoulu. ISBN 951-815-112. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: length (help)
  • Bäckman, Johan (2007). Saatana saapuu Helsinkiin: Anna Politkovskajan murha ja Suomi. Helsinki: Russia Advisory Group. ISBN 978-952-99785-1-9.
  • Bäckman, Johan (2008). Pronssisoturi: Viron patsaskiistan tausta ja sisältö. Tallinn: Tarbeinfo. ISBN 978-9985-9721-7-5.

Sources

References

  1. ^ "Oikeussosiologia 2008-2009". University of Helsinki. Retrieved 30.3.2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  2. ^ "Dosentti Johan Bäckman, VTT". University of Turku. Retrieved 30.3.2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  3. ^ http://ethesis.helsinki.fi/julkaisut/val/sosio/vk/backman/abstract.html
  4. ^ http://www.helsinki.fi/rpol/esittely/henkilosto.htm
  5. ^ http://notes.utu.fi/ty/webexper.nsf/031b9e8464cecb05c22564dd003abe2e/9b3aa972eae3fe4ec22573b700208d2b?OpenDocument
  6. ^ http://www.politika-karelia.ru/cgi-bin/articles_print.cgi?id=32
  7. ^ Publication index of Johan Beckman Institute http://www.ruslania.com/language-4/entity-1/context-289/publisher-1039.html
  8. ^ http://www.rep.ru/20Mar2002/society/01.html
  9. ^ http://www.politika-karelia.ru/cgi-bin/articles_print.cgi?id=32
  10. ^ http://www.rep.ru/10Apr2002/society/02.html
  11. ^ [1]
  12. ^ http://www.politika-karelia.ru/shtml/article.shtml?id=28
  13. ^ http://www.gov.karelia.ru/Karelia/990/39.html
  14. ^ http://www.sptimes.ru/index.php?action_id=2&story_id=9118
  15. ^ a b Helsingin Sanomat: Book accuses media and Green MP of inciting anti-Russian sentiment (2007-03-01)
  16. ^ Johan Bäckman: Finland washed with Anna Politkovskaya's blood ФИНЛЯНДИЯ, КРОВЬЮ АННЫ ПОЛИТКОВСКОЙ УМЫТАЯ
  17. ^ a b c d Десять лет, которые потрясут Эстонию Den' za Dnyom Template:Ru icon
  18. ^ a b c d http://www.apn-spb.ru/publications/article2329.htm
  19. ^ http://www.apn-spb.ru/publications/article2316.htm
  20. ^ ves.lv 6 March 2009 13:02: "Эстония? Нет такого государства!", interview by Yelena Slyusareva
  21. ^ Eesti Ekspress 23 February 2009 12:43: Räige Eesti-vastane kampaania käib kolmes riigis korraga, edited by Askur Alas
  22. ^ Õhtuleht 23 September 2008: Johan Bäckman on Vene propagandist by Allar Viivik
  23. ^ "Bäckman: Soome ja Eesti – üks rahvas – üks riik!" (in Estonian). 29 Apr 2009. Retrieved April 30, 2009. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  24. ^ http://www.hs.fi/kulttuuri/artikkeli/1135239739349
  25. ^ http://pronssisoturi.blogspot.com/2008/09/estonia-was-not-occupies.html
  26. ^ Template:De icon "Estland in zehn Jahren Teil der Russischen Föderation". Der Standard. 2008-09-11. Retrieved 2008-09-13.
  27. ^ Bäckman: Eesti on teel otse põrgusse Eesti Päevaleht 11 August 2008 Template:Et icon
  28. ^ Finnish writer: Estonia to lose independence in 10 years Baltic Business News 11 August 2008
  29. ^ Эстония прямиком движется в ад Molodezh Estonii 15 August 2008
  30. ^ http://www.hs.fi/kulttuuri/artikkeli/1135239710765
  31. ^ Poliisi tyrmäsi dosentin epäilyt
  32. ^ Tuomioja, Erkki (October 2008). "Pitäisikö provosoitua?". Retrieved 2009-03-31.
  33. ^ http://www.hs.fi/kulttuuri/artikkeli/1135239739349
  34. ^ Helsingi ülikool distantseerus Bäckmani seisukohtadest Postimees 27 March 2008 Template:Et icon
  35. ^ Misanthropist of the Year 2009
  36. ^ Eesti Päevaleht 17 March 2009 13:44: Johan Bäckman: natsism on Eesti ametlik ideoloogia, edited by Kalev Kask
  37. ^ a b c Helsingin Sanomat: Hundreds of listeners and a handful of protesters attend publication of book on Estonia (2007-03-24)
  38. ^ http://antifasistit.blogspot.com/2009/01/vuoden-ihmisvihaaja-2009-on-valittu.html
  39. ^ Viivik, Allar (2008-03-23). "Kapo: milleks aidata Vene propagandamasinat?". SL Õhtuleht (in Template:Et icon). Retrieved 2008-26-09. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  40. ^ a b Askur Alas (18 March 2009). "Üheskoos Eesti vastu: antifašist Bäckman ja natsimeelne Teinonen". Eesti Ekspress (in Template:Et icon). Retrieved 2009-03-31. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  41. ^ http://www.uusisuomi.fi/kotimaa/53880-supo-nashien-helsingin-retkesta-”olemme-kuulleet-huhuja”
  42. ^ "Anti-Estonian Johan Bäckman refused entry at Port of Tallinn". Helsingin Sanomat. 27 April, 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-28. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  43. ^ Bruun, Staffan (2009-03-22). "Han bjöd in 30 Putinunga" (in Template:Sv). Hufvudstadsbladet. Retrieved 2009-03-29.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  44. ^ Bäckman, Johan. "Dosentti Johan Bäckmanin uusi eurovaaliblogi 2009: Minkä puolueen ehdokas olen?". Retrieved 2009-04-26.

External links

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