The Karelian United Government (Karjalan keskushallitus), created in Vyborg in December 1920, brought together representatives of the Olonets (Aunuksen väliaikainen hoitokunta) and Ukhta (Vienan Karjalan väliaikaisen toimikunnan) governments. This is a historical step by the ethnic groups of Karelia in a common goal – to confront the Bolsheviks.
Among the members of the national government were well-known figures: a politician and representative of White Sea Karelia – Vasili Keynäs from Voknavolok, the head of the Rebolsk volost and representative of Karelia in the League of Nations – Pekka Kuittinen from Olonets Karelia. The unified government developed legislative initiatives, made plans for the country’s development after the Karelian Uprising and issued postage stamps in November 1921.
The newspaper “Iltalehti” dated January 25, 1922, wrote: “According to the information we received, the government of Karelia began organizing a postal service in the territory of Karelia, liberated from the Bolshevik yoke. Several post offices have already been opened, and new ones will be opened as the already appointed and newly appointed postal operators are able to start working and postmarks are produced.”The stamps were designed by the architect Wäinö Gustaf Palmqvist using the national coat of arms of Karelia created by the artist Akseli Gallen-Kallela.
Karjalan Kansallinen Liike (KKL)
Vladislav Nobel-Oleynik
