No charges over police conduct at Tampere May Day march

Prosecutors will not open a pre-trial investigation into police conduct during a May Day march in Tampere organised by the far-right Sinimusta movement, following a complaint alleging police inaction.

The complaint, filed by a private individual, claimed officers failed to intervene in clashes and an assault on a counter-protester, and allowed masked demonstrators to continue despite apparent intent to break the law.

Special Prosecutor Jonna Ryynänen concluded there were no grounds to suspect police violated Section 19 of the Assembly Act, which requires authorities to safeguard the right to assemble. The decision, first reported by Aamulehti, noted that police had issued advance notices, deployed additional officers, and made arrests during the event.

A separate complaint about the same incident was also filed with the Parliamentary Ombudsman, which did not take a position as the matter was under review by the police crimes unit.