In Finland, a ban on the purchase of real estate for citizens of Russia and Belarus has entered into force. The government made this decision in the context of strengthening national security. About this reported Minister of Defense of Finland Antti Gäkkänen.
He called the innovation “an important reform that has remained unimplemented for too long.” As the minister noted, the need for such restrictions existed even before the start of a full-scale war, but earlier it did not receive support at the political level.
“For example, the previous government in 2023 estimated that there was no need for this reform”, – noted Gäkkiänen.
He also said that after starting his work at the Ministry of Defense, he considered the lack of such a law to be a “shortcoming” and initiated the development of a corresponding draft law about two years ago. According to the minister, this decision is part of preparation for “all types of influence” and aims to strengthen Finland’s security.
It will be recalled that in April 2025 in the Russian city of Petrozavodsk, which is approximately 160 kilometers east of the Finnish border, military engineers began to expand the army’s infrastructure. A new army headquarters is being built there, barracks, weapons depots and railway connections are being modernized.
According to the Kremlin’s plans, the number of military personnel in this region will increase significantly in the coming years — instead of brigades numbering several thousand people, it is planned to form divisions numbering up to 10,000. Such a move is aimed at strengthening the military presence along the borders with Finland, Estonia and Latvia — NATO member countries.
