and author Veijo Meri (1928–2015), Finnish writer, his work focuses on war and its absurdity Casper Wrede (1929 in Viipuri1998), Finnish theatre and film director Esko Kunnamo (1929–2014), Finnish diplomat, ambassador in Kuwait, Abu Dhabi & Lagos Paavo Rintala (1930–1999), Finnish novelist and theologian Pertti Ripatti (1930–2016), Finnish diplomat, ambassador in Abu Dhabi, Caracas & Kuala Lumpur Oiva Toikka (1931–2019), Finnish glass designer Lasse Äikäs (1932 in Kuolemajärvi1988), Finnish lawyer, civil servant and politician Kari Nurmela (Viipuri 19331984), Finnish dramatic baritone Pertti Kärkkäinen (1933–2017), Finnish diplomat, Ambassador to Buenos Aires, Santiago & Lima Pentti Ikonen (1934–2007), Finnish swimmer, competed in 3 events at the 1952 Summer Olympics Martti Ahtisaari (born 1937 in Viipuri), Finnish politician, the tenth President of Finland (1994–2000) and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Gustav Hägglund (born 1938 in Viipuri), retired Finnish general, Chief of Defence 1994–2001 Laila Hirvisaari (1938–2021, born in Viipuri), Finnish author and writer Heikki Talvitie (born 1939), Finnish diplomat, Ambassador in Belgrade, Moscow & Stockholm Riitta Uosukainen (born 1942 in Jääski), Finnish politician and former MP, Counselor of State Born after 1945 Negmatullo Kurbanov (born 1963), Tajik major general in the Ministry of Internal Affairs (Tajikistan) Viatcheslav Ekimov (born 1966), nicknamed Eki, Russian former professional racing cyclist and triple Olympic gold medalist Aleksandr Vlasov (born 1996), Professional cyclist, currently rides for Team Astana-Premier Tech Vitaly Petrov (born 1984), Russian racing driver who competed in Formula One from 2010 to 2012 Aleksei Kangaskolkka (born 1988), Russian-born Finnish footballer, who plays for Finnish side IFK Mariehamn Kirill Alekseenko (born 1997), Russian chess grandmaster, participant in the Candidates Tournament 2020 Twin towns and sister cities Vyborg is twinned with: Bodø, Norway Lappeenranta, Finland Nyköping, Sweden Ramla, Israel Stirling, Scotland See also European route E18 Saimaa Canal Vyborg railway station References Notes Sources External links Official website of Vyborg History and attractions of Vyborg Grand Duchy of Finland Forts in Russia Castles in Russia Karelian Isthmus Medieval Finnish towns