Protesters may face imprisonment for vandalism at Finnish Parliament House in Helsinki

Protesters who stained the Finnish Parliament House may face imprisonment, according to Sakari Melander, a professor of law at the University of Helsinki. He explained that typical vandalism cases generally result in fines, but in serious cases of vandalism, jail sentences can range from four months to four years. The police are currently investigating the incident as a severe vandalism case.

Melander noted that vandalism can be considered serious if it results in significant financial damage or damages property of historical or cultural importance. The Parliament House, which was completed in 1931, is a protected building of considerable cultural and historical significance. This aspect could influence whether the charges are categorized as basic vandalism or severe vandalism.

According to Melander, perpetrators may be held financially responsible for the damages caused by their actions. In this case, cleaning costs could become substantial. The environmental group Extinction Rebellion (Elokapina) stated that the color sprayed on the Parliament House’s pillars was a mixture of water and corn flour.

The Parliament indicated that the initial cleaning has removed the worst of the stains, but further cleaning may be necessary in collaboration with the National Board of Antiquities. While the final cleaning costs are still undetermined, Sari Turunen, the property manager of Parliament, anticipates that they will be significant.

Melander mentioned that whether the stain is fully removed is not crucial for the evaluation of the criminal charge but will affect compensation if cleaning expenses increase. He added that if the property has been permanently damaged, it could lead to stricter sentencing, with the nature of the paint used potentially influencing the severity of the punishment.