Finnish Defence Minister Antti Hakkanen said that the government intends to ban the purchase of real estate in the country for most Russian citizens. This proposal is based on national security considerations, reports Komersant ukrainskyi
with reference to the Voice of America.
The prerequisite for this decision was the deterioration of relations between Finland and Russia after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. This prompted Finland to abandon its long-standing policy of neutrality and join NATO.
However, the proposed ban will have exceptions. It will not apply to people with dual citizenship, as well as to Russians permanently residing in Finland or other EU countries.
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Hakkanen explained the purpose of the measure at a press conference, saying that it is “designed to prevent possible hostile influence on Finland”. The minister also said that Finland is already monitoring around 3,500 properties in the country linked to Russian owners, although he did not provide specific details.
This initiative is a continuation of previous Finnish efforts to restrict Russian property acquisitions near strategic sites. Using existing rules, the government has already blocked six such transactions: three in October last year and three more in January this year.
Before the proposal is put to a vote in parliament, it will undergo a thorough expert discussion.
Finland shares a 1,340 km border with Russia. Currently, all border crossings between the two countries are closed. Finland accuses Russia of using migration as a weapon, claiming that the Kremlin encourages migrants from Asia and Africa to seek refuge in Finland.