NBI investigates how Rusi case was leaked to public

Interrogations of top politicians and civil servants expected

Alpo Rusi

Martti Ahtisaari

Eero Lankia

Jarmo Rautakoski

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The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is looking into who leaked information to several politicians and civil servants revealing that former Presidential aide Alpo Rusi was being investigated for possible involvement in espionage activities by the East German espionage agency Stasi. The information of the investigation by the Finnish Security Police (SUPO) was leaked already before Rusi himself knew that he was being investigated for anything.
      The NBI began its investigation at the request of the Parliamentary Ombudsman.
     
Helsingin Sanomat learned from the Ombudsman’s senior secretary Juha Haapamäki that the NBI had been asked to investigate "if anyone had violated official secrets in this matter".
      "We have not named any suspects", Haapamäki emphasises.
      Rusi filed a complaint with the Parliamentary Ombudsman in July 2003 calling for an investigation into whether or not SUPO or some other official body acted illegally by reporting on suspicions of espionage to several people, some of whom were not officially entitled to information about the incomplete investigation or the identity of possible suspects.
     
Rusi was first interrogated during the investigation on May 13, 2002.
      Before the questioning, information of the investigation had somehow reached Foreign Ministry official Juhani Suomi, former President Martti Ahtisaari, former Centre Party chairman Esko Aho, and Centre Party secretary Eero Lankia. They all were told about the investigation already in February 2002.
      The head of the NBI probe, Kimmo Markkula, says that he hopes that the investigation can be completed this month, after which the Parliamentary Ombudsman will decide whether or not to press charges.
     
The Security Police conducted an official investigation of suspicions that Alpo Rusi and his brother Jukka Rusi may have worked as spies on behalf of Stasi.
      State Prosecutor Jarmo Rautakoski decided in June last year that there was not enough evidence to charge Rusi of aggravated espionage.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Alpo Rusi to enter race for European Parliament after spying charges dropped (28.11.2003)
  State Prosecutor: no evidence of aggravated espionage in Rusi case (12.6.2003)
  Rusi espionage case: Stasi file card led to Security Police investigation (6.5.2003)
  Olli Rehn says Security Police broke law - Justice Minister wants SUPO to submit report on Stasi list (20.1.2003)
  Finland's Security Police suspects Rusi was Stasi source XV11/69 (16.9.2002)

Helsingin Sanomat