North Savo authority condemns death threat against councillor

A councillor in the North Savo wellbeing services county has received a death threat, the council chair Hannu Kokki told Yle. The threat was sent late last week.

In response, the authority held a safety training session for all councillors on Monday, covering how to handle harassment and threats. Councillors also received written guidance.

The authority’s leadership has strongly condemned harassment and threats directed at elected representatives and their families. Wellbeing services county director Marko Korhonen said councillors must be able to carry out the duties entrusted to them through elections safely.

Kokki said the threat was connected to the councillor’s work as an elected representative, but declined to give further details. He did not say whether the councillor had reported it to police. Yle has not been able to confirm whether police are investigating.

Kokki said he knew of one death threat against an elected representative in the authority. He was not aware of any harassment or threats against councillors’ family members. He said councillors may receive unpleasant messages on social media and face harsh language at public events, but stressed that people can contact representatives and offer constructive criticism. Harassment and threats are unacceptable, he said.