Finland looks to stop Russians buying property within its borders

The Finnish government has recently put forward a proposal which will allow it to prevent most Russian citizens from buying property in Finland. The move, suggested by Defence Minister Antti Hakkanen, is also being seen as an attempt by the country to bolster national security. 

The ban in question has the potential to be used against any funds or citizens from countries that may pose a threat to Finland's national security, as well as those which the EU believes to have violated other countries' territorial sovereignty. 

If the ban goes through, it would mean that Russians who are also permanent residents anywhere in the European Union - not just Finland - as well as dual citizens who hold Russian citizenship, would not be able to buy property. 

The legislation still needs parliamentary approval before it is passed. It will also need to go through a series of expert consultations. 

Finland already has some legislation which allows the government to intervene in some property purchases and block them, if needed, on the grounds of national security concerns. However, a full ban is the first of its kind.  

Helsinki recently moved to prevent Russians buying property near key areas of the city. 

The country has experienced a boom in the number of suspicious Russian-owned properties in recent years, such as loss-making hotels, properties with helipads and other disproportionate fortifications and properties sited close to key Finnish infrastructure. 

The Finnish government has increased its surveillance of these kinds of properties over the past few years, as more concerns about them being used to damage the country's infrastructure, or being part of bigger operations have surfaced.

Finland joined the North Atlantic Treaty