Levkoev, A. A. “FINNISH FACTOR” IN THE FORMATION OF THE KARELIAN AUTONOMY. Proceedings of Petrozavodsk State University. 2021;43(4):65–70. DOI: 10.15393/uchz.art.2021.619


Russia, Finland, Karelia: pages of a common history

“FINNISH FACTOR” IN THE FORMATION OF THE KARELIAN AUTONOMY

Levkoev
A. A.
Keywords:
Finnish factor
Red Finns
Karelian autonomy
Karelian Workers’ Commune
Gylling
Kudzhiyev		 Summary: In early June 1920, on the initiative of the famous Red Finn Edward Gylling, supported by the top leadership of the Soviet state, the Karelian Workers’ Commune was formed as part of the RSFSR in the Karelian and Finnish border areas of Olonets and Arkhangelsk provinces: it was existed until the end of July 1923. Despite the high degree of study of this stage of the Karelian autonomy, called in historiography the stage of its formation, a number of important issues require some clarifications and additions, as well as, it seems, a certain shift in emphasis. One of these issues, raised in this article is related to the goals pursued by Gylling and his associates, while participating in the creation and management of the Karelian Workers’ Commune. Other issues, discussed in this article, concern alternative options of Karelian autonomy and the associated power struggle between the Red Finns and representatives of the local, mainly Olonets-based, Soviet and party bureaucracy.



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