A performance at Tikkurila high school has sparked controversy after students with Russian backgrounds danced to Tatjana Kurtukova's "Matushka", a patriotic Russian song associated with pro-Kremlin sentiment.
The song, performed widely in Russia, praises "Mother Russia" and invokes the idea of "Holy Rus", a historical concept frequently referenced by Vladimir Putin in denying Ukraine's nationhood.
Large Russian flags were waved during the school performance, prompting criticism, including from Education Minister Anders Adlercreutz (SPP).
"School cannot become an arena where this kind of propaganda is pushed onto students and staff," he told Yle.
Adlercreutz also said that waving Russian flags at the event was inappropriate.
"In this case, we are talking about Russia, which is waging a brutal war of aggression against a European state. There were likely children at this school who had fled this illegal war of aggression," he added.
Principal: Russia could not be singled out
The high school's principal, Marianna Sydänmaanlakka, disagreed with the minister's take, saying that she could not ban Russian flags.
"My judgment would have failed if I had banned Russian flags while allowing other ones," she said. "We have ensured that everyone has an equal opportunity, in line with the curriculum, to present the language and culture of their own country."
When repeatedly asked by Yle about the Russian flags, the principal did not consider Russia's war of aggression grounds for making an exception.
However, flags are not expected to feature in next year's multicultural school celebration.
Sydänmaanlakka noted that students with Russian backgrounds had asked Ukrainian students whether they would like to take part in the performance.
"That did not happen for one reason or another," she said, adding that the school has not knowingly provided space for Russian propaganda.
