The Supreme Police Command has begun to investigate the material held by the Security Police (SUPO) concerning contacts between Finnish citizens and the East German security service Stasi. The study is expected to be completed in the near future.
The Supreme Police Command wants to know if the material held by SUPO on Stasi activities in Finland contains information that should have led to an investigation of possible criminal espionage by a Finnish citizen.
The other aim of the investigation is look into why the material has not made public - to ascertain if the decision to keep the material confidential is in line with legislation on public access to information.
The investigators also want to clarify how the use of the material has been monitored.
According to head police inspector Robin Lardot , the study is linked with a stepped-up monitoring of the legality of police activities, in which each police unit - including the Security Police - has faced regular scrutiny of its activities.
Supreme Police Commander Markku Salminen spoke about a possible inspection already about two weeks ago.
The inspection of the Stasi material is exceptional in that previous inspections have involved much more recent events, including inquiries into the legality of ongoing wiretaps.
