A former head of the Finnish Security Intelligence Service (supo), Saana Nilsson, discloses in her book the discovery of a document mistakenly thought to be the infamous Tiitinen list, which rather turned out to be a list of the best lunch spots in Helsinki.
Saana Nilsson, the former chief of the Finnish Security Intelligence Service (supo), has revealed in her new book an intriguing incident regarding a document labeled 'Tiitinen list' that she found while working in the agency's archives. This discovery made her heart race, but upon further examination, it was disappointing; the document was not related to the notorious list associated with individuals connected to the East German Stasi. Instead, it contains a compilation of lunch spots in Helsinki suggested by a well-known culinary expert.
The actual Tiitinen list is a highly confidential document that allegedly contains names of Finns who had ties with the Stasi, the East German security service. Its secrecy has sparked public interest and numerous discussions about national security and historical accountability. The revelation that the document Nilsson found was unrelated highlights the myths and misconceptions that often surround controversial historical topics in Finland.
Nilsson began her career at supo in 2009 as a university intern, which lent a fresh perspective to her findings. Her experiences in the archives, the discovery of this document, and her reflections on the implications of the actual Tiitinen list contribute to an ongoing discourse about the transparency and legacy of intelligence agencies in Finland. The exploration of such topics is crucial, as it engages the public in understanding past governmental actions and their impacts on contemporary society.
