Freedom of speech was more important: No preliminary investigation into MP Keskisarja's remarks

Finland's Prosecutor General has decided not to launch a preliminary investigation into comments made by Member of Parliament Teemu Keskisarja during a television appearance last year. The decision, announced by the Prosecutor's Office, indicates that after a thorough review, the grounds for initiating a formal investigation were not met.

In an August broadcast, Keskisarja made several controversial statements, including claims about "hundreds of thousands of mostly low-quality arrivals" entering Finland, discussing population change, and describing Finnish public gatherings as potentially turning into "a developing country pigsty and a bloodbath." These remarks drew significant attention and criticism.

The Prosecutor General, Ari-Pekka Koivisto, evaluated Keskisarja's statements in their entirety, balancing the fundamental and human rights concerning freedom of speech against the principles of non-discrimination. The statement emphasized, "The significance of freedom of speech in the discussion in question has been highlighted, and restrictions on it must be approached critically."

The decision not to proceed with a preliminary investigation was also based on the assessment that a formal prosecution would likely not lead to a conviction. This aligns with the police's earlier decision last autumn not to initiate a preliminary investigation. The Prosecutor General possesses broader discretion than the police and can order an investigation even when the police do not. The ombudsman for equality had requested the Prosecutor General to order an investigation after the police decision.

“

The significance of freedom of speech in the discussion in question has been highlighted, and restrictions on it must be approached critically.