Finnish court found Two investigative journalists found guilty of Posting status secrets in a decision announced on Friday.
the main author of The article was sentenced to pay an undisclosed fine on the basis of on bit of his income. The Helsinki District Court ruled that the co-author had not received any punishment.
shipment against A third defendant, a supervisor, was dropped. The verdict can be appealed.
The trial centered around an article in the Helsingin Sanomat newspaper in December 2017. Several pieces revealed of information Around military Intelligence information that has been classified to protect Finland’s security.
“We are disappointed with said Antero Moca, editor of the paper.in-President.
Despite the indulgent results, the damage to liberty of expression has already Has been accomplished “.
The in-depth article mentioned on The “organization, capacity and procurement” of a military Intelligence Communications Center in Jyväskylä, 230 kilometers (142.92 miles) north of Helsinki.
“There were strong societal foundations for writing This article,” said the Sanoma Media group, which owns the paper.
in time of Post, Finland was in the process of drafting new legislation on Intelligence activities.
According to Sanoma Media, Target of the new legislation” was give Intelligence organizations have very wide powers of surveillance network that would detract from the basic rights of citizens.”
But the court found That goes into the details with class information It can only be permitted on public Reasons for interest if it includes an “important disclosure,” for example on “Offense of power or any other illegal activity by the authorities.”
According to the district court, the article contained no such significance information.
while posted information did not “endanger Finland’s external security” information It cannot be considered “harmless”.
Pavol Salai, head of The European Union office of Reporters Without Borders said the ruling was “extremely disturbing”.
When the country ranks on the above of World Press Freedom Index “tracks journalists for Reports on national Security issues, “sets” a dangerous precedent for Freedom of the press internationally.
