Finland blocked the sale of six properties to Russian, Montenegrin, and Israeli citizens, citing national security risks

Finland’s Ministry of Defence blocked on Wednesday the sale of six properties to citizens of Russia, Montenegro and Israel, citing national security concerns. The transactions involved properties in several regions of Finland, including areas near the border with Russia.

Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen refused to grant the permits required under Finnish law governing real estate transfers. One case concerns a property in Kotka, on the country’s southern coast, whose location could have had implications for national security.

In the other five cases, the buyers failed to submit the additional documents requested for risk assessments, despite being notified repeatedly. The properties are located in Viitasaari, Miehikkala and Imatra, towns in central and southeastern Finland. The properties were intended for commercial or recreational purposes.

In the Imatra transaction, the buyer was a company registered in Italy but owned by citizens from outside the European Union and the European Economic Area.

The law, adopted in 2019 and amended in 2025, allows authorities to block acquisitions that could threaten the country’s security or hamper its defence. Finland tightened scrutiny of buyers from outside the EU and EEA after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.