Dozens of climate protesters on trial at District Court of Helsinki

THE DISTRICT COURT of Helsinki on Monday began hearing a case in which dozens of people face criminal charges for participating in a protest organised by Extinction Rebellion Finland outside the Government Palace in Helsinki in October 2021, reports

By: helsinkitimes.fi

Aug 22 2024
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Dozens of climate protesters o

THE DISTRICT COURT of Helsinki on Monday began hearing a case in which dozens of people face criminal charges for participating in a protest organised by Extinction Rebellion Finland outside the Government Palace in Helsinki in October 2021, reports YLE.

A total of 33 protesters are accused of insubordination to the police, and 28 of them also of violation of privacy relating to public premises and one of criminal damage.

The defendants have all rejected the charges, insisting that the protest was lawful and took place in a public place.

Some of the protesters were on the steps leading to the main entrance and others outside another entrance to the governmental building – some having affixed themselves to the building with glue and padlocks, according to the public broadcasting company. The sole count of criminal damage stems from glue stains on a window.

Officers at Helsinki Police Department ruled that the protest was unlawful and took altogether 52 people into custody after the protesters failed to comply with police orders to vacate the premises. While the underage protesters were released promptly, 48 protesters were held in police custody for about 28 hours.

A fair share of the protesters avoided charges because they could not reached in time.

On Monday, the prosecution argued that the protesters should be fined for violating the privacy of public premises by blocking access to and from the building and for being insubordinate to the police by refusing to obey the order to disperse.

“They didn’t obey the police request to relocate, so the police had the right to terminate the protest,” Juulia Lehtonen, the district prosecutor handling the case, said to YLE.

The defence argued that the charges should be dismissed on grounds that the steps of the government building constitute a public place. While the protesters sought to get as close to lawmakers as possible to make sure their demands for declaring a climate emergency were heard, they neither attempted to enter the building nor prevented anyone from entering or leaving the building.

As the protest was peaceful and caused only minor disturbance, the police did not have the right to terminate it, the defence added.

“This question boils down to limiting basic rights. Finnish law has no provisions that grant police the right to suspend a protest unless it causes an immediate danger or it includes illegal activity,” said Tuuli Talvinko, the licensed legal counsel representing the defendants.

A chief inspector who was assigned to the protest revealed in court that police discussed the nature of the protest with a prosecutor on duty before suspending and ultimately bringing protesters into custody.

“To an experienced police there was nothing unclear about the purpose. No one was able to get in our out through the main entrance of the Government palace,” the chief inspector testified.

Helsinki Police Department have admitted to mishandling communication regarding the protest. A spokesperson stated on the day of the protest that the protest posed a security threat to people inside the building.

Several people inside the building, including cabinet members and President Sauli Niinistö, said the protest did not inhibit their ability to move.

The District Court of Helsinki will issue a verdict on the case on 2 September 2024, according to YLE.

Aleksi Teivainen – HT