Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen has blocked two foreign property purchases in the Mikkeli region. The properties are located in Mikkeli and Puumala municipalities.
The minister rejected the deals over national security concerns. He stated that property acquisitions can serve as channels for hybrid influence operations.
Häkkänen made the decisions in October as part of broader property restrictions. He issued eleven negative permit decisions nationwide for properties sought by buyers from outside the EU and ETA areas.
One additional property in Savonlinna was also blocked in the South Savonia region. The applicants were citizens of Russia, Israel, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.
The properties were intended for various uses. Plans included business operations, forestry activities, and residential and recreational purposes.
Häkkänen explained the reasoning in a defense ministry release. He said Finland must prevent property acquisitions that threaten national security and supply security.
The property permit system works alongside a complete ban on Russian and Belarusian acquisitions. That ban took effect earlier this year.
The decisions are not yet legally binding. Applicants can still appeal the rulings.
This reflects Finland's heightened security stance following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The government is tightening control over strategic assets and border regions.
Eastern Finland's location near the Russian border makes property transactions particularly sensitive. Security officials monitor foreign acquisitions that could compromise defense arrangements.