Elokapina activists agree to move their demonstration elsewhere

<1> <2> <3> <4> <5> <6> Activists of the environmental movement Elokapina agreed to move their demonstration from Mannerheimintie Street to another location before nightfall. <7> <8> This decision was made after negotiations with the police. <9> <10> At the same time, the young people said they intend to continue their action, as they have not received satisfactory answers from the government. <11> <12> The demonstrators express their dissatisfaction with the government's policy on combating climate change … The environmental movement is demanding, among other things, that the government prioritize climate issues and declare a state of emergency, and move Finland's goal of achieving carbon neutrality from 2035 to 2025. <13> <14> Due to the protest that began on Thursday at 1 p.m. , car and tram traffic on Mannerheimintie Street near the House of Music in the center of the Finnish capital was completely blocked. <15> <16> Earlier in the afternoon, Minister of the Interior <17> Maria Ohisalo<18> (Greens) rejected allegations of police interference. According to her, the police are acting independently, without instructions from politicians. <19> <20> The Prosecutor General's Office is currently investigating the actions of the police during the Elokapina demonstration last October. Then Helsinki police officers dispersed a peaceful demonstration of eco-activists using pepper spray. <21>