What do finns think about eastern finno-ugrians?

[zemelmete]

What do finns think about eastern finno-ugrian nations (komi, mari, udmurts, mordvians, khanty, mansi) which live in Volga and Ural regions?
Do finns consider them as "brothers", "strange, weird nations", or "exotic people"?

I am really curios.

[wilpuri]

I suppose most Finns feel that there is some sort of a bond due to the linguistic connection. Also their difficulties with Russia awake sympathy. On the whole though, they aren't as 'close' as the both linguistically and geographically closer relatives.

[Sohni]

Can't speak for all Finns, but I've read Finns discussing problems of eastern relatives in other forums and my impression is that their attitude is very positive.

Who still doesn't know the site, please read: MariUver

I myself have Estonian father and half-erzya/half-moksha (mordvin) mother and have never encountered any negative attitude because of it, not from Estonians or Finns.

[wilpuri]

Well surely no one is negatively inclined, there is no reason for that, but there is much indifference.

BTW, its great to see you here, Sohni!