Journalists complain of blow to Finnish freedom of expression; Chechen website back online

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The recent removal of kavkazcenter.com, a Chechen rebel website from a Finnish server, has been seen by a number of Finnish journalists and politicians as an embarrassing blow to Finnish freedom of expression, and as a great victory for Russia in its information war on the issue of Chechnya.
      The issue was discussed at a public debate held at Helsinki’s Press Club on Saturday.
      A Finn, Mikael Storsjö, recently agreed to host the site, but was later persuaded by Finland’s Security Police (SUPO) to shut it down. The pages were online for two days. SUPO also confiscated Storsjö’s server for investigation.
     
On Saturday the website was online again, but Storsjö had to rent a space from a server in Sweden for the purpose. This was seen as particularly embarrassing by those taking part in the discussion. Herkko Hietanen, a lawyer working for the Electronic Frontier Finland organisation, complained that freedom of expression was now for export.
      According to Storsjö, Finnish web hotels are now reluctant to host sites spreading the message of the Chechen cause for fear of negative publicity.
      In the view of Interior Minister Kari Rajamäki, SUPO engaged in "pre-emptive security work", adding that there was "reason to suspect" that "material that would incite people to commit crimes" might be published on the website.
      Participants at the event on Saturday were ready to see the actions of SUPO and the Finnish government as a new example of "Finlandisation" - a term used during the Cold War suggesting excessive deference by politicians and the press to Soviet sensibilities.
      Lawyer and former Green MEP Matti Wuori said that "the Western way" to deal with the possible need to shut down a website would have been to bring the matter before a court.
      MP Heidi Hautala, who chaired the meeting, emphasised that the blow suffered by freedom of expression was the most important aspect of the event - not necessarily the content of the website itself.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Chechen rebel website may re-open soon (21.10.2004)
  Web operator: Chechen web pages were not illegal (20.10.2004)
  Finnish host of Chechen rebel website: Security Police did not shut it down (19.10.2004)
  Russian call to Finland to block Chechen rebel web pages comes after proprietor has already shut down (12.10.2004)

Helsingin Sanomat