President Martti Ahtisaari 1937-2023

The state funeral of former President of the Republic Martti Ahtisaari will be held in on St Martin’s Day, 10 November 2023. The funeral service will take place at 13.00 at Helsinki Cathedral.

President Ahtisaari will be buried at Hietaniemi Cemetery in the same area as Presidents Urho Kekkonen, Mauno Koivisto and Risto Ryti.

Yes, the state funeral was broadcast live on channel TV1 of the Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE, on the online service YLE Areena and on Radio Suomi.

Recordings of former president Martti Ahtisaari’s funeral | Yle Areena

Recording of the radio broadcast of former president Martti Ahtisaari’s funeral | Yle Areena

Members of the public are welcome to attend the funeral service. Entrance to the Cathedral will take place from the Senate Square side of the building starting at 11.30. Guests are asked to arrive so as to be seated by 12.15 at the latest. Please note that seating is limited in the Cathedral. Members of the public are requested to leave large belongings at home and be prepared for a security check.

Citizens are warmly welcome to watch the cortege as it proceeds along the following route: Unioninkatu, Aleksanterinkatu (towards Meritullintori, around the Main Guard building), Pohjoisesplanadi, Unioninkatu (around the Presidential Palace), Aleksanterinkatu, Mannerheimintie, Arkadiankatu, Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu, Mechelininkatu and across Hietaniemi Cemetery from the Old Chapel gate to the New Chapel.

There will be exceptional traffic arrangements in the Helsinki city centre during the cortege. The police and the City of Helsinki will provide more detailed information about the arrangements.

Information about traffic arrangements | Police of Finland

The Defence Forces’ Guard of Honour will be posted at the gravesite on Friday 10 November until 22.00. Members of the public will be able to visit the grave and leave flowers after the burial on Friday starting at around 16.30.

From Saturday 11 November onwards, members of the public can visit the grave when Hietaniemi Cemetery is open. The cemetery gates are open daily between 7.00 and 22.00.

More information about Hietaniemi Cemetery, including visiting hours, areas and transport connections | Lutheran Church in Helsinki

Former president Ahtisaari’s family has requested that citizens, businesses and organisations honour his memory by making a donation to the Martti Ahtisaari Peace Fund.

CMI – Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation is a conflict management organisation established by President Ahtisaari in 2000. Proceeds from the Foundation’s Peace Fund will ensure that CMI can continue to operate independently and will strengthen its ability to respond swiftly to changing crisis situations.

About the Peace Fund | CMI

More than 800 invited guests are expected to attend the state funeral of former President of the Republic Martti Ahtisaari in Helsinki on Friday 10 November. In addition to state protocol, the invited guests will reflect former president Ahtisaari’s decades-long international career.

Approximately 600 guests have been invited to the event based on their position and office in line with state protocol. 

In addition, guests have been invited to the funeral according to the wishes of Ahtisaari’s family. These approximately 300 invited guests reflect President Ahtisaari’s life and extensive life’s work both in Finland and abroad.

Yes, flags will be flown at half-mast throughout the country on the day of the funeral.

The Ministry of the Interior has instructed all government agencies and public bodies to fly the flag in honour of Martti Ahtisaari’s funeral. It is recommended that the flag-flying arrangements be observed throughout the country.

Flags are to be raised on 10 November 2023 at 8.00 and lowered at 21.00. The flag should first be raised to the top of the pole and then lowered so that the lower edge of the flag is in the middle of the pole. The funeral service is expected to end at 14.30. At that time, flags are to be raised to full-mast.

Government agencies and public bodies will fly the state flag, while others will fly the national flag.

State funerals are organised, or paid for from state funds, for deceased presidents. In exceptional cases, the Government may also decide to organise or finance a state funeral for a long-term prime minister, a speaker of Parliament or a person of special national prominence. The Prime Minister’s Office presents proposals for the arrangement of state funerals to the Government.

State funerals | Prime Minister´s office