This is the strange opinion ... Not so. It's actually widely shared opinion, specially among elderly. But very widely among youth too.       I always thought that there were good relationships between Russians and Finns in spite of the existence of the totalitarian USSR and despite the events in 1939 because:   Officially they were. During those times there were huge gap between the mind of the people and the official politics. Today this gap is not so significant on this issue. The most important issue on Finnish politics up to 1991 was How do we keep ourselves apart from Russia. That is culmination of all politics. After 1991 it haven't been and Finnish political life have been refreshing then.    Time 1939-1949 is still the greatest factor in Finns attitude towarsds Russia. I think other things don't bother people born after that, but Karelian question does.        1. Finnland became a part of the Great Russian Empire in 1808-1809 and was as such till December 1917.  2. Russian emperor Alexander 1 (the period of rule - 1801-1825) granted wide political and economic freedom to Finnland (in contrast to what Swedes did when Finnland was the part of Sweden till 1808-1809). The development of the Finnish written language got enormous push, Finnland got its own currency and the Seim (the Parlament), the construction of Helsinki city began with the help of architectors from Russia. (All of this is the reason why the monument to Russian Emperor Alexander is set on the central square of Helsinki)   Alexanders are highly regarded in Finland. The statue on Senate Square is Alexander II erected by the people. The architecht of Helsinki was a german Carl Ludvig Engel who worked for imperial court. Blueprints were just approved in St. Petersburg. Alexander II was known for liberal tendencies and wanted to use Finland as test labrotary for reformations planned for Russia itself. However these gains were not granted purely by grace but Finns had very active role for asking these freedoms.       3. Russia did not object against getting Finnland its independence in 1917-1918.   I wouldn't say so. Bolsheviks didn't but Kerensky and white Russian government opposed. That is why Finnish army did not help white front and not crushed Lenin's government from north. Finnish War of Independece started as war against russian troops on country, but ended as civil war.