On November 24, 2025, Finnish Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen stated that Russian property buyers will face increased scrutiny amid a Yle investigation exposing opaque real estate and permit activities. Finland has banned Russians from purchasing in border and security sensitive zones, but the investigation revealed continued purchases in urban apartments using intermediaries. The Finnish Immigration Service now requires Russian buyers to have resided in Finland for over five years to acquire residence permits linked to property. These enhanced measures seek to mitigate covert attempts by Russian nationals to gain footholds through real estate and reduce national security vulnerabilities. The government confirms that Russians without residency have limited rights to buy property in Finland. This move aligns with Finland’s broader security posture in light of regional tensions and Russian actions.
Category: Political & Legal Subversion
Subcategory: Lawfare & Legal Pressure
Incident Type: Exploiting international law & treaties
Country: Finland
Source report: yle.fi/a/74-2019…
