The controversial World Peace statue was moved from Hakaniemenranta on Monday morning.
The City of Moscow donated the statue to Helsinki in 1989. It was unveiled to the public in 1990. Even then, the statue was the subject of much debate.
The statue is owned by the Helsinki Art Museum (HAM) and will be transported to a warehouse designated by the museum in the eastern part of Uusimaa.
The City of Helsinki and HAM will decide on the final fate of the statue at a later date.
Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, public debate has heated up over the need for the statue.
History of controversy
Since the statue was revealed to the public in 1990, it has attracted controversy.
The statue was severely damaged when three students poured tar and feathers on it in 1991. Calling themselves "Höyhenryhmä" ("The Feather Group"), the trio wanted to make a statement that the Soviet gift did not belong in Helsinki.
The group included Mikael Jungner, a law student who later became the managing director of the Finnish Broadcasting Corporation Yle and an MP.
In 2010, there was an unsuccessful attempt to blow up the statue with a gas cylinder.
