News
The article is more than 3 years old

Finland's Convoy protest weekend enters third day

The protests have shrunk over the course of the weekend.

Mielenosoittajia Convoy Finland -tapahtumassa Helsingissä.
Convoy protesters stopped traffic in Helsinki on Friday and Saturday. Image: Antti Aimo-Koivisto / Lehtikuva
  • Yle News

Finland's Convoy protest had shrunk to a small group on Sunday evening, occupying a square close to parliament but not blocking traffic.

The protesters had demanded cheaper petrol, an end to Covid restrictions and vaccine mandates, and the resignation of the government.

In pursuit of these goals they gathered on Friday evening and blocked traffic outside parliament, refusing to disperse when asked by police. Some 55 were detained on Friday night and another 15 were taken to the cells on Saturday evening.

With temperatures hovering around zero and heavy snow falling all weekend, some had driven saunas on trailers to the protest site, and the event took on a carnival atmosphere — although there was aggression directed at police and reporters.

By Sunday the protester seemed to have lost enthusiasm for the outdoor demo.

"The crowd seems to have maybe shrunk a little compared to a couple of hours ago," police told Yle on Sunday afternoon, when it seemed like around 30-40 people were in attendance.

They also said that Saturday's protest had been small during the day, but gathered bigger crowds towards the evening.