Finland stops 6 real estate deals on nat´l security grounds

Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen on Wednesday signed six negative permit decisions concerning real estate acquisitions by buyers from outside the EU and EEA, Ministry of Defence in a press release on Friday.

The negative decisions concern properties in Mikkeli, Imatra and Kouvola, and three properties in Lieksa.

Real estate transactions in Mikkeli, Lieksa and Imatra were made by private individuals while the transaction in Kouvola was made by a company.

Both the private individuals and actual beneficiaries of the company are Russian, Ukrainian and Swiss citizens.

The Ministry of Defence justified the decisions by stating, among other things, that it cannot be ruled out that the real estate acquisitions in question could threaten national security and hinder the organisation of national defence or the surveillance and safeguarding of territorial integrity.

A permit may also be denied because of unpaid permit fees or because the intended use of the real estate is not credible.

Earlier in October 2023, the Ministry of Defence issued three negative permit decisions concerning real estate acquisitions by buyers from outside the EU and EEA.