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The war launched by Russia against Ukraine has raised the question of the ethics of the Finns traveling to fill up with Russian gasoline. In a closed Facebook group, where gasoline tourists are members, you can find polar opinions.
Some members of the group believe that refueling on Russian soil supports Russia's wars on Ukraine.
According to gasoline tourists, they are forced to go to Russia by high prices in their own country. This position is shared by Sirpa Laurimo from Rääkkülä, who has just received a new Russian visa.
The woman has previously run all three family cars in Russia. She visited the neighboring country for cheap gasoline every week.
“I calculated that I would save 240 euros a month if I went there weekly,” says Laurimo.
She does not believe that refueling in Russia is a direct support for aggression.
“This money is not for Putin, it is for the people,” a resident of Räakylä points out.
At the same time, she hopes that in her homeland she will not be considered a traitor.
People with dual citizenship also travel to Russia to refuel.
- A couple of times a week, - reports Yuri Kadykov at the Niirala checkpoint.
Andrey Harginen is going to Russia to visit relatives, but on the way he is going to buy gasoline as well.
“Prices have risen sharply now,” the man complains.
There are also those who refused to travel to the Russian Federation for fuel because of the war.
Anne Järvelin from Ilomantsi used to be a "petrol tourist" too, but now she is against such trips.
“Russia attacked an independent state, which I cannot accept,” the woman admits.
She no longer intends to refuel in the Russian Federation, because, according to her, she does not want to finance Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“I'll save on something else,” Jarvelin comments that she has to buy gasoline at Finnish gas stations.
The customs service does not assess the moral side of visiting Russian gas stations, but warns of inspections at the border. The fact is that at present it is forbidden to import Russian fuel in canisters into Finland.
Jouni Jormanainen, deputy head of the Customs Service in Niirala, points out that cans of gasoline are found on motorists at the border every week. Customs officers in this case give an order to return the fuel.
The driver has two options: either take the canister back to the Russian side, or give it to a person heading for the Russian Federation.
“I don’t know for sure whether they will take [a can of gasoline] to a gas station or what will happen on the Russian side,” says Jormanainen.
According to him, the Customs Service may also seize the prohibited cargo and dispose of it later.