Criminal charges have been filed against Elokapina – the Finnish branch of the global climate protest movement Extinction Rebellion – and the registered association Elonvaalijat, which supports the movement.
The prosecutor said four people linked to the two organizations will be charged with fundraising.
Police said they had reason to believe the group had breached fundraising laws on two separate occasions, the first time between April 26 and June 18 last year and the second on September 15, police said.
Proceeds from fundraising have been collected on purpose "finance activities which are manifestly contrary to public policy or public security or which are illegal", the prosecutor said in violation of Finnish law.
All four defendants in the fundraising have denied any wrongdoing. The prosecutor dismissed the charges against the fifth suspect.
In addition to fundraising offenses, the prosecutor has also prosecuted two people for fraud in connection with a grant paid from the funds of the Finnish Cultural Foundation.
The supporter is threatened with incitement to Yle’s interview
The prosecutor also said in a separate press release that charges of public incitement to crime have been brought against Yle, a climate movement supporter who gave an interview in September.
In the interview, e.g. Annamaija Hakama promised to pay protesters any fines for the protest.
Source: The Nordic Page
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