The collapse of the rouble, caused in part by EU sanctions against Russia over its alleged support for Ukrainian rebels, has had an impact on parts of the European bloc. It has been particularly felt in “http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/finlands-shopping-tourism-hit-as-russians-stay-at-home-9819884.html”: south east Finland which had enjoyed a healthy revenue stream from Russian tourists.
With the rouble significantly weakened against the euro cross border shopping is no longer the big attraction it once was.
As a consequence a region that was booming just a couple years ago is now coping with a huge drop in trade and rising unemployment.
In the town of Lappeenranta a new shopping centre is being constructed, fuelled by pre-crash investment confidence. But can it and many other commercial ventures survive without the Russians?
Security concerns are also on the rise in the region. For some Finns the new tensions between Russia and the EU have resurrected painful
