Fines for climate activists over Parliament climbing stunt
Fines for the eight defendants ranged from 180 to 1,260 euros.
- Yle News
The Helsinki District Court on Monday convicted eight climate activists ofunlawfully climbing pillars at Finnish Parliament during a demonstration last March.
The court handed down a conviction for disturbing the peace for each of the eight protesters, and also sentenced them all to pay a 30-day fine. The activists from Greenpeace Norden were also ordered to forfeit their communications equipment and climbing gear to the state.
In financial terms, the fines ranged from 180 to 1,260 euros and were based on the incomes that the defendants reported to the court during the trial.
Last March the activists scaled several of the large columns in front of the Parliament in connection with a climate demonstration. Police estimated that roughly 250 people participated in the protest.
The prosecutor had called for a minimum penalty of a 40-day fine for the offence. A verdict in the case was initially due last month but it was postponed.
The verdict and sentence are not enforceable because the defendants can appeal the outcome in a higher court or turn to the Supreme Court for a precedent ruling.
Security tightened at Parliament
Following the incident, Parliament officials stepped up security in and around the property and also asked for police support to safeguard the safety of parliamentary work.
Then-Parliamentary SpeakerPaula Risikko (NCP) said that the Parliament had zero tolerance for disruption and that the activists had crossed a line.
"The incident was no innocent demonstration, but it used the parliamentary building in a manner that was unacceptable," she said in a statement at the time.
Last month climate activists were pepper sprayed after resisting police efforts to remove them from a street they were blocking. Police came under intense scrutiny over the use of force.
You can listen to climate activists explain their demands on the APN podcast via the embedded player here or viaYle Areena,Spotify,Apple Podcasts or your usual podcast player using theRSS feed.
