Putin visits Finland amid tight security measures

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in the picturesque Finnish town of Savonlinna midday Thursday amid tight security arrangement that has been nearly unprecedented in Finland.

The police have asked residents not to appear on balconies or open windows and private sailing in the waters around the Olavinlinna castle has been prohibited, although Savonlinna is used to high level visitors.

A police spokesman told local media that the threat level has not been increased, and said he could not give more details. Senior inspector Harri-Pekka Pohjolainen of the Eastern Finland police said police can give such orders at its own discretion.

Despite the strict security controls, dozens of local residents could be seen waiting along the road from the airport where Putin was to arrive at.

With his working visit, Putin observes the Finland's centennial anniversary of independence from Russia. Finnish President Sauli Niinistö is to greet Putin at a historic resort hotel on the Punkaharju ridge Thursday afternoon.

After talks there, they will take a short voyage on lake Saimaa on a steamer and enjoy an operatic performance by the Russian Bolshoi Theatre at the mediaval Olavinlinna Castle.

The location also carries a strong message about the joint history of Finland and Russia. Finland declared independence in 1917 from Russia after the Russian revolution. After centuries of Swedish rule, Finland became an autonomous Grand Duchy under Russia in 1809.

The construction of the resort hotel used as the venue of the political talks Thursday was authorized by Czar Nicholas I in 1845.

The Olavinlinna Castle, the scene for the opera performance, was built in 1475. The border between Russia and Sweden ran near the castle in medieval times.

Although adhering to the joint foreign policy of the European Union, Finland that shares a 1,300-kilometre long border with Russia, has maintained high level contact with Moscow also during the worsened relations since the beginning of the Ukraine crisis.

Sauli Niinistö last met Putin in Arhagelsk, Russia this past winter, and Putin visited western Finland last July.

Thursday's visit coindicides with the joint Russia-China naval excerices on the Baltic Sea which kicked off on Sunday.

Kari Huhta, a security policy analyst of a Finnish language daily newspaper Helsingin Sanomat, noted that the exercises do not change the security situation in the area.

Huhta said that the peaceful and festive atmosphere around the presidential meeting will be positive for trade and tourism.