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Finland rejects Russian nationals' property acquisitions, citing security grounds

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Finland rejects Russian nationals' property acquisitions, citing security grounds
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius (L) speaks with Finnish Defence Minister Antti Hakkanen as they attend a NATO Council Defence Ministers Session, at the NATO's headquarters in Brussels, on Oct. 12, 2023. (SIMON WOHLFAHRT/AFP via Getty Images)

Finland's Defense Ministry blocked three planned property acquisitions by Russian nationals due to concerns that they would "hinder" national defense, the ministry said in a press release on Oct. 19.

The sales that were rejected were in the Finnish localities of Ruokolahti and Kitee, both located about 25 kilometers from the Russian border.

On Oct. 14, it was reported that Finland was considering banning Russian citizens and other non-European Economic Area (EEA) citizens from purchasing certain types of property in Finnish territory, citing security concerns.

Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen said that a complete ban was also under consideration.

The tightened restrictions on the purchase of real estate by foreigners would also include foreign companies.

In mid-September, Finland banned entry to Russian-registered cars only days after the Baltic countries instituted the same measure.

A militarily neutral country for decades, Finland joined NATO in April 2023, a little more than a year after the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion.

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Nate Ostiller

News Editor

Nate Ostiller is a former News Editor at the Kyiv Independent. He works on special projects as a researcher and writer for The Red Line Podcast, covering Eastern Europe and Eurasia, and focused primarily on digital misinformation, memory politics, and ethnic conflict. Nate has a Master’s degree in Russian and Eurasian Studies from the University of Glasgow, and spent two years studying abroad at Kyiv-Mohyla Academy in Ukraine. Originally from the USA, he is currently based in Tbilisi, Georgia.

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