Ministry of Foreign Affairs | Foreign Minister Valtonen on Jari Vilén’s case: “In a rule of law, even the accused has legal protection”

Helsinki the police announced on Thursday eveningthat the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has made an investigation request to the police, the ambassador in Ottawa Jari Vilén’s about the data leak related to the case.

The police have started a preliminary investigation into the matter.

“According to the criminal complaint, confidential information has been leaked to the media, which has jeopardized the legal security of the complainants and the subject in a matter related to the Finnish Embassy in Ottawa”, the police in the bulletin was said.

In other words, the investigation request is about the media being told information about a complaint related to ambassador Vilén’s perceived disturbing behavior.

HS asked in relation to the investigation request foreign minister From Elina Valton (kok), what does the situation look like, where the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wants to catch the person who leaked information to the media and at the same time, Vilén, who is suspected of harassment, is being given information about his job in Finland.

According to Valtonen, there is no point in seeking confrontation in the situation.

Regarding the workplace, Valtonen says that he has no other option while Vilén is in an official relationship than to invite the ambassador home.

“Now it is very important that in this civil service legal process we follow every section of the law, as it is done, and find out exactly what has happened, and then draw conclusions,” says Valtonen.

He says that he is completely convinced that the official leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will reach a conclusion in the matter that is the best in the situation.

The civil service process regarding Vilén’s behavior is ongoing. It can lead to a warning or, in extreme cases, dismissal.

Valtonen commented on the investigation request also referring to Vilén’s legal protection.

“Of course, in a rule of law, the accused also has legal protection. And that’s at least partly what this is about. And I believe that it is quite an indivisible value for all Finns,” he says.

“It in no way excludes the fact that every charge will be investigated very carefully. And especially we at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – I can fully assure you – have a complete zero tolerance for harassment and improper behavior, and this process will also show that.”

HS asked Also from Valtos, is it known that none of those who experienced Vilén’s activity as disturbing would have been worried about their privacy, thinking that they want to find out about the information leak, also citing the legal protection of the complainants.

Valtonen does not take a position on this. He says that he thinks it is important that the civil service legal process, to which the request for an investigation is now connected, gets a working peace.

The chairman of UHVY, the trade union representing employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mari Neuvonen previously assessed to HS that publicity may have been necessary in the situation.

“If this had not gone public, my guess is that nothing would have happened,” Neuvonen said.

FEBRUARY at the end, seven employees of the Canadian representative office in Ottawa sent a signed petition to the occupational health and safety commissioner in Helsinki detailing Vilén’s inappropriate and disturbing behavior: touching, insulting comments to sexual minorities, shouting and humiliating employees. HS has also seen the petition.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched its own investigation into the case, the results of which Ilta-Sanomat got its hands on. According to Ilta-Sanom the investigation found the employees’ accounts to be credible and Vilén’s denials to be implausible.

According to the investigation team’s report, Vilén has committed sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior at the Ottawa mission.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ request for an investigation related to the data leak was announced on Thursday before the police announcement Evening newspaper. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs held an information session on Thursday, where leaks were also discussed.

VILÉ will continue his work as head of the representation in Ottawa until the end of June, after which he will return to Helsinki to work for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pekka Puustinen has told HS earlier that Vilén will be found a job matching his experience.