Damages Sought Against State

Alpo Rusi alleges that the investigation against him by the Finnish Security Police was without foundation, and that leaks about the investigation to the public violated his privacy. Rusi says he suffered mental distress and the loss of jobs.

The trial is expected to further increase pressure on the Security Police to open the Stasi files and also to provide an impetus for scholars to push for more access to information about Soviet espionage.

Former Finnish political leaders may be called to testify in the case early next week.

Rusi's campaign to clear his reputation grabbed headlines when he began demanding that the state release classified lists of spies and reveal who really did spy on behalf of communist countries during the cold war.

The Security Police has not published their lists of suspected cold war spies. Top police officials are only now completing a review of the basis for classifying the documents secret.

It is likely that during the present case brought by Alpo Rusi, the documents concerning East German espionage will remain under wraps. The court decided in advance that they will not be presented in evidence.

The court will, however, hear from former President Martti Ahtisaari and a researcher on Stasi affairs, Helmut Müller-Enbergs.