Henrik R
Finnish Parliament Votes to Ban Russians From Buying Property
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Finland’s parliament has unanimously approved a bill that bans Russians from purchasing property in the country, citing national security concerns.
Defense Ministry Confirms Vote
The Finnish Defense Ministry confirmed the vote on Friday, describing it as a measure to prevent “hostile influence” from foreign actors.
A Long Border With Russia
Finland, which shares the longest EU and NATO border with Russia, has already blocked several Russian real estate deals over the past year.
“We Will Not Allow Finland to Be Undermined”
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Ban Includes Military and Security Grounds
The law prohibits property transactions from individuals or entities based in countries that “wage a war of aggression” and pose a potential threat to Finland’s security.
Exemptions for Certain Residents
The ban does not apply to Russians or other foreigners with Finnish or EU residence permits granted by Helsinki. They can still apply for transaction approval.
Crackdown on Dummy Buyers
The new law also introduces a permit requirement to prevent fake or “dummy” buyers from concealing the real purchaser’s identity.
Government to Name Banned Countries
Häkkänen said the government will issue a formal decree listing which countries fall under the restriction based on national security assessments.
Real Estate Seen as Strategic Threat
Finland’s Defense Ministry said foreign-owned property could be misused to undermine the country’s economy, infrastructure, businesses, and national security.
Years in the Making
A working group to explore this legislation was first set up in 2013, long before Finland joined NATO — showing the long-term concern over foreign property influence.
