In Finland, police do not allow volunteers to raise funds for the Armed Forces - the media
According to journalists, "Friends of National Defense of Ukraine" and "The Association of Your Finnish Friends" (YFF) are examples of organizations that help Ukrainian society in the midst of war with Russia. It is noted that UMY has focused their attention, among other things, to ensure military training of Ukrainian fighters, while YFF supply vital materials to Finnish volunteers who are fighting on the side of Ukraine.
However, it is reported that the documents that journalists were familiar with, it is apparent that the police disagree with the license to raise funds to protect the Ukrainian Armed Forces directly. The whole thing is that such meetings are interpreted as military activity. The material states that in terms of Finnish legislation, socially useful activity implies a general social, cultural or intellectual activity.
However, according to the Armed Forces, the police do not get to this list, although the law does not prohibit it directly. According to representatives of UMY and YFF, in addition to humanitarian activities, the support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is also an ideological and clearly socially useful activity. Police also believe that the support of the Armed Forces can lead to the fact that Finnish citizens will begin to support the armies of other states.
"Ukraine protects itself from Russian imperialism and Russian war crimes. Finland must show sustainability and eliminate obstacles to parties that pursue goals that are of common interest. By supporting Ukrainian armed forces, we can guarantee that as many people can live in peace as many people as possible Being arrested or killed by Russia because of the wrong thoughts, "said YFF head Casper Kannost.