The Tuska Festival in Helsinki took a sharp political turn on Saturday when Russian deathcore band Slaughter to Prevail performed amid growing concerns about their alleged links to Russian state propaganda.
Protesters gathered just outside the festival gates, holding signs and chanting slogans that questioned the band’s presence in Finland. Many signs referred to the group as “Russian patriots” and accused them of promoting pro-Kremlin views under the cover of heavy music.
The focus of the protest was lead vocalist Aleksandr Shikolai, widely known as Alex Terrible. Organizers claimed he has repeatedly shown support for Russia’s government through both visual symbolism and brand affiliations. They cited his use of the Russian flag in earlier performances and his public involvement with patriotic brands such as Svoja Kultura.
Anastasiia Diudina, one of the protest leaders, voiced concern over what she called a contradiction between Shikolai’s statements to Western media and his online presence in Russian platforms.
“He tells English-speaking journalists he does not support the war, but his posts in Russian tell a different story,” Diudina said. “It is offensive to have him perform here while Russia escalates tensions near Finland’s borders.”
Inside the festival area, attendees made their own statements. Some waved Ukrainian flags, others wore blue and yellow clothing, and a few raised protest banners directly aimed at the Kremlin. During the band’s set, a visible group of spectators responded with raised middle fingers.
Tuska Festival promoter Jouni Markkanen defended the public’s right to express opinions during concerts, saying the atmosphere remained within the bounds of normal festival behavior.
“People waving flags or banners is part of what you see at any large-scale music event. Giving the middle finger is not new either,” Markkanen said.
He also confirmed that Russian flags were explicitly banned from this year’s event and that no such imagery was displayed by the band during the performance.
“The artist followed all the guidelines. There was no intention to wave flags or provoke anyone,” Markkanen added.
Security at the event remained stable, although police were called in to manage several individuals who attempted to disrupt the protest near the entrance. The situation remained under control, with no serious incidents reported.
