Published 

29.12.2023

The Parliamentary Ombudsman received 16 complaints about the actions of the police at the demonstrations at Töölöntori on the Independence Day. Based on what was stated in the complaints, Parliamentary Ombudsman Petri Jääskeläinen decided to begin an investigation of the actions of the police on his own initiative. 

In the complaints, the police were criticised for issues such as use of disproportionate force against peaceful demonstrators and for the use of horses, which had caused dangerous situations in the crowd. In addition, the complainants reported that the freedom of assembly had been unduly restricted when the ‘Helsinki without Nazis’ demonstration was not allowed to go ahead. The Ombudsman has requested the police to report on how efforts had been made to negotiate with the organiser of that demonstration both before the Independence Day and on the actual day.

The Parliamentary Ombudsman has requested a report and a statement on the matter 8038/2023 from the National Police Board by 15 April 2024.

For more information on the matter, please contact Principal Legal Adviser Juha Haapamäki, tel. +358 9 432 3334