The environmental NGO Elokapina scored a win over the Helsinki police in an administrative court ruling over a fundraising dispute.

The Helsinki police had blocked two fundraising campaigns that were meant to raise money for the legal expenses of Elokapina activists who had been detained during protests.

The police cited a clause of the Money Collection Act, according to which a fundraising drive may not be organised to finance activities that clearly endanger public order or safety, or that are illegal.

The Administrative Court found that the primary purpose of the collections was to collect money for the individuals’ legal expenses, not for Elokapina’s activities. Accordingly, it overturned the police decisions.