Kari Uoti seeks state compensation over alleged rights violation

Lawyer Kari Uoti is seeking compensation from the state over what he says was a human rights violation against his client, mixed martial artist Makwan Amirkhani, Yle reports, citing Helsingin Sanomat. Uoti says comments by two government ministers breached Amirkhani’s presumption of innocence.

Uoti set out his demand in a letter sent on Thursday to Chancellor of Justice Janne Salminen. He says Social Security Minister Karoliina Partanen and Environment and Climate Minister Sari Multala, both members of the National Coalition Party, violated the presumption of innocence in their comments about Amirkhani.

Amirkhani is charged at the Länsi-Uusimaa District Court with coercing musician Mira Luoti into a sexual act. Partanen said arguments Uoti made in court, including that Luoti was not “desirable” according to Amirkhani, were humiliating to Luoti. Multala called the case disgusting in response to Partanen’s post.

Uoti responded to Partanen’s criticism on Tuesday. His conduct during the trial has drawn public attention, and on Thursday he appeared to shove an Ilta-Sanomat photographer in the courtroom. Several other politicians have also criticised his comments about Luoti, and multiple complaints about Uoti have been filed with the supervisory board.