Police remove swastika flag from private home in Lappeenranta

Finnish police have removed a swastika flag from a residential property in Lappeenranta after receiving multiple reports, Yle reports. Authorities are now investigating whether displaying the flag constitutes a criminal offence under hate speech laws.

The flag was taken down on Tuesday after police received numerous calls on Monday and Tuesday about the swastika banner flying on a private property, visible to passersby. The flag is now in police custody, according to detective chief inspector Oili Saarelainen.

“The question is whether one can publicly display the ideology this flag represents on their own property, which does enjoy privacy protections,” Saarelainen said. She noted that while the swastika flag itself is not explicitly banned under Finnish law, its public display could violate statutes against incitement.

Prosecutors are working with police to determine if charges should be filed. The investigation will examine whether the flag was made accessible to the public or distributed in a way that violates the law. The owner has not yet been questioned, as the case remains in its preliminary stages.

A 2024 ruling by the Helsinki Court of Appeal set a legal precedent when it determined that carrying swastika flags during an Independence Day march constituted incitement against a population group. The Supreme Court later upheld the decision, reinforcing the interpretation that such displays can be criminally prosecuted.

“The Court of Appeal’s ruling established that waving a swastika flag can indeed be legally problematic,” said Tatu Hyttinen, assistant professor of criminal law at the University of Turku. “Future legal practice will likely reference this decision.”