Marxist-Leninist Groups

) was the central organization of Finnish Maoists. The MLR was active from 1973 until 1979 and it had supporters in few cities but it always remained a small current with under 200 members. MLR had close contacts with the Chinese Communist Party and other Nordic Maoist parties.

MLR was founded early in 1973 to unite local Maoist groups that had been founded around Finland. The "Marxist-Leninist Society of Helsinki" (HMLS), the first such group, had been active since the late 1960s. The HMLS (like the whole MLR) was mainly active in the radical youth and student movement. The activities of the Maoists were closely followed by Suojelupoliisi, KGB and the Communist Party of Finland (SKP),Kimmo Rentola: Vallankumouksen aave (Otava 2005), pp. 155-157.] which fiercely condemned the anti-Soviet movement. The MLR was founded after the SKP began expulsions of Maoist cadre from its ranks.

The organization published two papers, theoretical "Punakaarti" (1969–1977) and agitational "Lokakuu" (1972–1978). MLR had book shops named "Lokakuu" ( _en. October) in Helsinki, Turku and Rauma. In the series "Classics of Marxism" MLR published works by Stalin, Mao, Hoxha and Marx.

Many of the members who disbanded the MLR in 1979, including its leader Matti Puolakka, went to form Alternative Movement Itu ( _fi. Vaihtoehtoliike Itu), which soon began moving away from Marxism-Leninism.

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