Helsinki District Court hears case of Elokapina protest outside Government Palace

The Helsinki District Court is hearing the case today regarding the environmental movement Elokapina’s protest at the Government Palace in October 2021. A total of 33 activists are charged with resisting authority, with 28 facing additional charges of disturbing public order. One individual is also charged with property damage. The accused deny any wrongdoing.

The activists were protesting outside the Government Palace, asserting that it was a lawful demonstration in a public space. Access to the steps of the palace is unrestricted. Some activists attached themselves to the building using glue or locks, while others were suspended on tripods. The police deemed the protest illegal, interrupting it and detaining 52 individuals.

Among those arrested were minors, who were released quickly. The police held 48 protesters for approximately 28 hours, but charges against about 20 suspects lapsed due to delays in prosecuting them.

The case has sparked public debate over the right to protest and police actions. On the day of the protest, police stated that it posed a security threat to those inside the Government Palace, although its readiness unit assessed it as non-threatening. Elokapina claimed that access routes remained open and that the demonstration did not create a security risk. Various ministers and President Sauli Niinistö attested that their movements were unfettered by the protest.

Earlier, police acknowledged shortcomings in their communication regarding the event, yet they maintained they had valid reasons to disrupt the protest under the charge of severe disturbance of public order. Legal experts have argued that this charge may not apply, as the demonstrators did not enter the building.