Finland’s Defense Ministry is seeking to ban real estate purchases within the nation by Russian nationals and companies.
According to a press statement, a working group appointed by Minister of Defense Antti Häkkänen created a report on the issue, which will be submitted for public comments before it is sent to the Parliament to be voted upon. The government’s announcement did not specifically cite Russia by name, but it left no doubt regarding the target of the proposed policy change.
“The working group proposes that no permit to buy real estate be granted to persons whose country of nationality has been found by the European Union to be in violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of another country or whose country of nationality may be a threat to Finland’s national security,” the press statement said. “This prohibition would also apply to entities who are domiciled in the territory of such a country or who are owned or influenced by citizens or entities of such a country. Further provisions on such countries would be issued by government decree.”
The proposed policy change, which was first floated in January, would exempt Russian citizens with Finnish permanent residency or permanent residency from another European Union or European Economic Area (EEA) nation.
Häkkänen advocated for the policy change, arguing that “Western countries have seen continual examples of the increasingly flagrant means employed to destabilize our societies. Finland must make sure not to leave any windows of vulnerability open to hostile actors. We must identify and neutralize in advance any risks that could compromise the functioning of society and the security of the population in times of crisis.”
;
