At the "Father Frost against Putin 2026" festival, January 10 2026, political and trade-union activist Mikhail Lobanov talked about what is happening to the active part of Russian society — and how Russian socialists and anarchists should make use of the growing demand for left-wing ideas in order to prepare for the future struggle to democratize Russia and the world.
4:25 PM - 6:00 PM
January 10, 2026
Oranssi, Kaasutehtaankatu 1, Helsinki
Who needs Russian grassroots activism abroad? What use is there from it and what is its meaning? “Your actions don’t influence anything” is a common
statement not only from the mouthpieces of Russian propaganda, but also, unfortunately, among Russian civil society.
Festival program is now released!
Father Frost Against Putin 2026 is a festival where Russian speakers living in Finland and beyond, Finns, and people of other nationalities come together to talk about freedom, solidarity, and a future without war.
12 PM - 13:35 PM (Helsinki time)
January 10, Oranssi, Kaasutehtaankatu 1
Free entry
YouTube can still — and should — be used for activism. Nika Vodwood (nixelpixel) will talk about approaches and tools that help you use algorithms to your advantage, find your audience, and create YouTube videos on social and political topics. At the end, she will answer any questions during the Q&A.
The presentation examines Russia's colonial policies and their impact on Indigenous regions, highlighting the strategic neglect, economic exploitation, and disproportionate burden placed on these communities during the war, as well as acts of resistance.
Presentation by Zarema, Feminist Anti-War Resistance Finland and World Congress of Dagestan activist.
Recorded in Father Frost against Putin -festival, 11th of January 2025.
Can feminism help stop war? Yes—and it already is. This presentation introduced key ideas from the newly translated book Feminist Solutions for Ending War, focusing on selected chapters that explore the crucial role feminism plays in conflict prevention and peacebuilding.
Following the presentation, participants engaged in a collaborative discussion and brainstorming session. Together, we explored practical ways to apply feminist strategies in everyday antiwar activism and resistance efforts.
This presentation explores the current state of the LGBTQIA+ community in Russia and highlights the ongoing challenges they face. It also includes statistics from November 2024, offering an overview of the asylum process for Russian LGBTQIA+ asylum seekers in Finland — including general guidelines of the official procedure, the actual situation, and the difficulties encountered by applicants.
In January, the Father Frost against Putin-festival was organized in Helsinki for the ninth time. The first festival was organized in 2014, but there were no festivals in 2021 and 2022 due to border closures and Covid.
The 10th anniversary of “Father Frost against Putin” festival is approaching, so it is time for a throwback to what happened last January. Then the festival was held for the first time in three years. Initially the border was closed by Covid, then by the war in Ukraine, but in the end it was decided to continue organizing the festival in Helsinki, just under new conditions.
Where: Lepakkomies, Helsinginkatu 1
Entry €12 (standard) or €20 (support price)
Timetable:
8 PM Doors
8.30 Pavel Semchenko:
"10 reasons to become a dictator", audiovisual performance
8:45 Cave Moss
Laid-back but energetic alternative rock from Helsinki
Aatu Kovanen : guitar & vocals
Iikka Puolakka : bass & vocals
Ahti Kulo : synths, percussions and vocals
Kalle Kauranen : drums
9:30 Asko Keränen
In Father Frost against Putin -festival, Helsinki 13th of January 2023 7:30 at Oranssi (Kaasutehtaankatu 1, building 11).
We will screen the movie about participants of anti-fascist and anarchist groups during the anti-Putin protests of 2011-2012.
Festival program is now published.
Father Frost against Putin -festival was organised first time 10 years ago. From 2014 to 2020 festival was organised seven times, and Russian grassroots organisations told about their activities and networked between each other.
Festival program is now published.
Unfortunately, we must once again delay our festival, this time due to war. Our concept was always to be an open meeting of Russian (and not only Russian) activists in Helsinki. But now borders are closed, and it is unclear if any open social activism in Russia will be possible from now on.
But we plan to organise our festival anyway. We still have spaces and organising group. Our preliminary new dates for the festival are 6th-9th of January 2023.
Father Frost Against is a cultural and political festival, focused on critical thinking, reflection and development of new activism strategies. Held in Helsinki, Finland from the 3rd to the 5th of January and organized by local activists, as well as participants from Russia and the post-Soviet space.
Next year, 2019, the Father Frost against Putin-festival will once again take place in Helsinki. From the 5th to the 6th of January you can join discussions about the state of affairs in Russia and the x-USSR region, and get a chance to meet various social and political activists without the fear of police or special service operations. (fear of infringement from the side of police and special services).
Various initiatives and activists from post-soviet countries and the rest of Europe will be part of this event sharing stories and reports on the situation in their regions. There are plenty of reasons for exchanging perspectives: an increase in repression and a new round of political confrontations are accelerating certain historical processes, not giving us a chance to catch our breath.
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