Helsinki District Court has convicted journalist Laura Halminen for allegedly disclosing state secrets in the infamous Finnish Intelligence Research Center case

In a condemnable move, Finnish authorities have filed criminal charges against Laura Halminen and two other journalists associated with daily newspaper Helsingin Sanomat over an investigative piece published in 2017. Authorities have accused the journalists of leaking state secrets, however no date for the trial has yet been set. All three journalists have denied the charges against them. The Coalition For Women In Journalism calls on the Finnish authorities to drop all criminal charges lodged against the journalists. Proceeding against journalists covering critical issues in this manner is a blatant attempt to curb the freedom of the press. The country must ensure a safe and conducive environment for members of the press to report on sensitive issues - this includes eliminating the fear of government retaliation.