Helsinki courts are set to be congested with cases against around 850 activists detained on demonstrations urging action on climate change, rising petrol prices and Covid restrictions.

The majority of the activists were detained during protests by Elokapina, the Finnish branch of the climate group Extinction Rebellion, and are charged with insubordination against police.

Hearing all the cases is expected to take so long they will not all be dealt with this year.

"It feels like the Elokapina people have been directed to refuse lighter punishments, such as fines or written warnings," said District ProsecutorJuha-Mikko Hämäläinen. "We are forced to take them all through court, the co-called longer route."

Elokapina activists deny being directed to take any particular course of action, and say that they are just exercising their legal rights.

Till Sawala, a protester whose case is due to be prosecuted, said that nobody is forcing anybody to prosecute activists.

"To me it seems bizarre for a prosecutor to state that people defending themselves is wrong," said Sawala. "Defending yourself against this is not subverting the court."

Prosecutors are also in the process of dealing with thepolice use of pepper spray during one Elokapina protest. State prosecutors are still weighing whether to prosecute that case.

The recent Convoy protests calling for an end to coronavirus restrictions and lower fuel taxes will also bring more cases into the court system. Police have detained around 70 people at Convoy protests this month, when protesters blocked traffic in central Helsinki.

The Convoy protesters saw some detentions for resisting an official with violence, while Elokapina activists used passive resistance in their protests.