Convoy Finland protests COVID restrictions, fuel price hike, dozens held

Police arrested several dozens of people and foiled their demonstrations called Convoy Finland held in Helsinki on Friday and Saturday protesting against the coronavirus restrictions and abnormal price hike of petroleum products.

A total of 55 protesters were arrested from outside of the parliament building on Friday and 15 were arrested from Citizen's Square on Saturday, said police in separate press releases on Saturday afternoon and late Saturday night.

The demonstrations were held on Friday from 6:00 pm to 10:00pm in front of parliament building and on Saturday from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm at Citizen´s Square and blocked traffic movement for several hours. The demonstrators also demanded resignation of the five-party alliance government.

Members of the law enforcing agency also towed the vehicles of the demonstrators and foiled the gathering as the protestors did not pay heed to police instructions despite repeated requests.

“Most of the detainees are suspected of stubbornness against the police,” said Jarmo Heinonen, a top official of Helsinki police in the press release issued in the afternoon, adding that they already started to release the detainees after interrogating them.

Police in another press release issued at about mid-night said that the demonstration was ended and the Mannerheimintie road was opened at 11:00 pm.

Heinonen said that police arrested 15 protesters on Saturday night due to their disruptive behavior.