Helsinki to get first mayor of Russian descent

Helsinki is set to appoint its first mayor of Russian descent, Daniel Sazonov, following a victory by the centre-right National Coalition Party in local elections.

The National Coalition Party secured 24% of the vote in the Helsinki region, maintaining its long-standing dominance in the capital’s municipal politics, Caliber.Az reports via Finnish media.

The party has consistently led local elections in Helsinki for over half a century.

Daniel Sazonov, a member of the winning party, will assume the mayoral role. Born in Helsinki in 1993, Sazonov is the son of Russian immigrants who moved to Finland from St. Petersburg in the early 1990s.

Sazonov entered Helsinki’s city council in 2017 and has served as Deputy Mayor for Social Affairs and Health since 2021.

His appointment marks a significant moment in the city’s political history, reflecting the growing diversity of Finland’s political landscape.

By Aghakazim Guliyev