Finland Times

 

Sports and Cultural affairs minister Paavo Arhinmäki addressing a public programme in Pori on Tuesday where he faced angry people for waving gay flag in Moscow. Photo - Lehtikuva

Controversy has been created over the waving of bi-sexual minority group Gay Pride’s Rainbow flag by the Sports and Cultural affairs minister Paavo Arhinmäki during the World Athletic Championship in Moscow.

 

 Arhinmäki, also the chairman of the left alliance party Vasemmistoliitto, however, said that he got mixed reaction over the incident of waving gay flag in Moscow from the people of different strata where number of people appreciated the moves, in addition to getting strong criticism by others.

 

The criticism turned into protest on Tuesday when number of people accused the minister during a public programme in the Pori city centre.

 

The angry people said that waving gay flag by a Finnish minister in Moscow, where the government enacted law against such move, would put a negative impact on the bilateral relations of the two neighbouring countries-Finland and Russia.

 

They also asked explanation from the minister during the Pori programme and demanded his resignation from the ministerial post.

 

“The relationship between Finland and Russia may face crisis due to your activities in Moscow,” said a woman who came to the minister during the programme and demanded his resignation.

 

Photo - Lehtikuva

A man also came to the minister and sought clarification whether Arhinmäki did it individually as a person or as a minister of Finnish government.

 

Arhinmäki said that he got massive response and gratitude from Pori people for defending the rights of homosexuals, although received number of messages where people criticised him pointing out verses from Bible.

 

“The flag picture has got a lot of attention to the social media and there was no negative reaction in Russia,” Arhinmäki told STT on Tuesday, adding, “we should have the courage to bring the human rights issue in light, if necessary.”

 

Earlier, on June 29, Arhinmäki participated in a huge rally in Helsinki brought out by sexual minority group-Pride.