Prosecutor drops charges over Seiska stories about Yle editor

Prosecutor Kukka-Maaria Kankaala has decided not to bring charges against the editor-in-chief and a former journalist of Seiska magazine over articles about Yle editor Riikka Räisänen, Yle reported on Wednesday.

The decisions were issued on Wednesday and communicated to Yle by message.

Police had suspected Seiska editor-in-chief Jyrki Huotari of defamation and an offence related to the duties of an editor-in-chief. The magazine’s former journalist was suspected of defamation and disseminating information violating personal privacy.

Huotari briefly commented on the decision to Yle, calling it expected and correct. He said it was positive for journalism, freedom of expression and the public’s right to know what is happening in the world.

Police had also suspected a private individual of disseminating information violating personal privacy. The prosecutor will not bring charges on that count, but the person remains under investigation for stalking. The prosecutor said the decision on that allegation would be made later.

The individual has previously been charged with data damage and two counts of defamation.

Complaints not considered

Seiska published a series of articles in September 2024 about Räisänen’s relationship. At the time, she was editor-in-chief of Yle’s news and current affairs division. She is now editor-in-chief of Yle’s local news division.

The alleged offences were also suspected to have targeted Räisänen’s boyfriend.

Several complaints about the articles were submitted to the Council for Mass Media in Finland, but the council did not consider them because of the police investigation.

In December 2024, council chair Eero Hyvönen said Seiska’s reporting on Räisänen was exceptional in Finland. He said Räisänen was a person wielding power as Yle’s editor-in-chief, but questioned whether there were sufficient societal grounds for publishing details about her private life.