Finland imposes restrictions on land purchase by Russians

Helsinki, July 20 (UNI/Sputnik) The Finnish authorities have tightened up restrictions on the purchase of land, including by Russian citizens, under the pretext of ensuring national security, Russia’s trade representative in Finland, Anton Loginov, told Sputnik on Wednesday.
Starting in 2020, the acquisition of Finnish land by non-EU citizens, as well as companies whose capital is 10% or more owned by citizens or companies from non-EU countries, require a license from the defense ministry. In 2022, the Finnish Defense Ministry additionally received the right to check the origin of funds for the purchase of land and set the maximum allowed distance to military facilities, according to Loginov.
Loginov noted that many Russians from the border regions of Karelia, Leningrad Region and St. Petersburg, own private vacation properties in Finland.