>
Russian diplomat’s parking lot ‘annexed’ outside embassy in Finland after activists ‘held a two-person referendum’
- Jarno Virtala and Markus Mattsson painted a Ukrainian flag in the parking lot
- The parking lot was at the residence of Russian diplomat Pyotr Plihin in Turku
- The Finnish couple painted the flag to protest Russia’s ‘fake votes’
- Mr Mattsson said the duo held ‘a two-man referendum on the annexation’ of it to Ukraine
- The men, who did not know each other before, wanted to peacefully show their support
<!–
<!–
<!–<!–
<!–
<!–
<!–
The parking lot of a Russian diplomat was ‘annexed’ outside the embassy in Finland after two men ‘held a referendum for two people’.
Jarno Virtala and Markus Mattsson painted over the spot with the Ukrainian flag on Wednesday in protest against Putin’s votes in Russian-occupied parts of the country — which Ukraine and its allies dismissed as a sham.
The couple painted the parking lot outside the official residence of Russian diplomat Pyotr Plihin in Turku, Finland.
Mr Virtala said it was his idea and that he arrived in a hi-vis jacket so he would look like a maintenance worker, Mr Virtala said. Insider.
Jarno Virtala and Markus Mattsson painted over the site with the Ukrainian flag on Wednesday in protest against Putin’s ‘fake votes’ in Russian-occupied parts of the country
While cycling, Mr. Mattson, whose partner is Ukrainian, stopped and decided to help Mr. Virtala paint the place.
On Facebook, Mr. Mattson wrote: ‘We held a two-person referendum on the annexation of the parking lot to Ukraine.’
“One hundred percent of voters agreed and no dissenting proposals were made, so we decided to celebrate the results by painting a flag of Ukraine on the spot.”
The Finnish duo told Insider that they did not know each other beforehand and that they were looking for a way to protest peacefully and show support for Ukraine.
The Finnish couple painted the parking lot outside the official residence of Russian diplomat Pyotr Plihin
Putin has used the men as justification for an annexation, which was condemned by the UN on Wednesday.
Independent property manager Virtala said that after the paint dried, Mr Plihin’s car returned to the spot.
He added that he thought the diplomat “didn’t like the colors at all” and didn’t look happy.
The parking lot is reserved for by the city for diplomatic use, according to Yle.
The national broadcaster also reported that yesterday city officials said the paint would not be removed.