Eloisa municipal council holds remote meeting amid credible threat to officials

The South Savo welfare region’s Eloisa municipal council held an online meeting today to discuss budget cuts due to a credible threat against the council. Seppo Lokka, the director of safety and rescue services in Eloisa, did not disclose specific details about the threat, citing confidentiality, but confirmed that several officials received “unacceptable messages.”

“The threats were communicated directly to officials via email and phone,” Lokka stated. The nature of the messages prompted the decision to conduct the meeting remotely. The welfare region holds responsibility for the safety of its staff and decision-makers. So far, no police report has been filed regarding the threat related to the council meeting.

This is not the first time officials in the welfare region have faced varying degrees of intimidation this year. Senior officials have received significant negative feedback and threats related to their personal safety, with one incident having led to a police report.

During the remote meeting, council members issued a joint statement condemning the threatening behavior and emphasized a zero-tolerance policy against actions that undermine democracy. Lokka noted that a key takeaway from the situation is the recommendation to hold future council meetings in the welfare region’s own facilities or in locations pre-assessed for safety.

The council also addressed a significant savings package during the online meeting, with the largest cuts proposed affecting the operation of Savonlinna Hospital. However, no agreement was reached on the hospital savings, and the matter was sent back for further preparation.