The entrance to the Ministry of Defence, covered with a hood, in Helsinki on 9 June 2025. The entrance will be cleaned using gentle methods to ensure that the decorative structures are not damaged. Photo: Elsa Paakkinen / Lehtikuva
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The cost of cleaning graffiti damage to Finland’s Ministry of Defence could run into tens of thousands of euros, according to officials overseeing the restoration. The entrance to the historic government building was sprayed with pink paint early Saturday morning in what police are treating as aggravated criminal damage.
The suspect or suspects have not yet been identified, and no arrests have been made, said lead investigator Tommi Lehtonen, a detective chief inspector with Finnish police.
On Saturday, the group Palestine Action Suomi claimed responsibility for the act, releasing a video showing a masked individual spraying paint over the entrance. Authorities are treating the matter as serious due to the symbolic location and the extent of the damage.
The painted areas have since been covered with protective sheeting. Cleaning will be carried out under the supervision of a conservation specialist to prevent damage to the building’s protected structures and architectural features, according to Sanna Jääskeläinen, communications director for the government-owned property firm Senaatti.
She said cleaning will involve various surface treatments based on material testing. Some surfaces may require complete repainting.
The Ministry of Defence has not yet provided an official estimate, but Senaatti stated that the final cost is expected to reach tens of thousands of euros.
Lehtonen noted that a similar incident at the Finnish Parliament in the past had resulted in unexpectedly high costs. The ministry will be asked to submit a formal damage assessment, which could influence the legal classification of the case or potential compensation claims if those responsible are identified.
The investigation remains ongoing.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
