JFK Oswald file 60 yrs” : “Declassified Files Reveal Lee Harvey Oswald’s Mysterious Visit to Helsinki Before JFK Assassination

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Declassified files from the Finnish Security Intelligence Service (Supo) have provided new insights into Lee Harvey Oswald’s mysterious visit to Helsinki in 1959, prior to his later assassination of US President John F. Kennedy in 1963. The 60-year confidentiality period on these files has now been lifted, allowing the public to gain a better understanding of Oswald’s activities during his time in Finland.

According to Supo’s records, Oswald arrived in Helsinki on the night of October 10, 1959, and checked into Hotel Torni, specifically in room 309. Initially, he claimed he would be staying for five days, but after only two nights, he abruptly changed hotels and moved to the Klaus Kurki Hotel, where he stayed for an additional three nights. Despite Supo’s efforts, authorities were unable to ascertain Oswald’s motives for his visit to Helsinki, as his activities during his stay remained elusive. Supo noted that they lacked the means to track his movements beyond hotel registers and passport control lists.

One significant development revealed in the declassified files was Oswald’s quick approval for a Soviet visa after leaving Helsinki. The US Warren Commission, responsible for investigating Kennedy’s assassination, noted that Oswald’s visa was approved surprisingly fast. On October 12, 1959, he applied for a tourist visa at the Soviet embassy in Helsinki, and just two days later, on October 14, his visa was granted. During the Cold War era, similar visas typically took over a week to be approved, making Oswald’s case highly unusual.

Oswald’s US passport application indicated his intention to study in Switzerland or at the University of Turku. However, it was later revealed that his application to the University of Turku was merely a cover, adding to the enigma surrounding his actions in Finland.

The declassified documents also raise questions about Oswald’s arrival in Helsinki. Conflicting information suggests that he may have come from either London or Stockholm, with uncertainties surrounding his exact route. Interestingly, Oswald’s name did not appear on arrival lists, leaving Supo to speculate on potential routes, including flights or ferries from Stockholm. Given that the only flight from London to Helsinki on October 10 landed late at night, and Oswald checked into Hotel Torni less than an hour later, it is unlikely that he came directly from the United Kingdom. Supo considered it more plausible that Oswald arrived in Helsinki via Stockholm, either by plane or ferry.

One of the memos included in the declassified files contains an incorrect entry, stating that Oswald had traveled from Helsinki to Stockholm. This mistake was later corrected to indicate that he had actually gone to Moscow. The initial memo acknowledged that Oswald had been in Helsinki “apparently waiting for a visa,” and the correction stated that he had left for Moscow via Vainikkala. After leaving Helsinki, Oswald arrived in Moscow and immediately expressed a desire for Soviet citizenship.

The release of these declassified files offers a rare glimpse into the mysterious activities of Lee Harvey Oswald during his time in Helsinki and sheds new light on the events leading up to President Kennedy’s assassination..