Finland plans to restrict real estate transactions for Russians

HELSINKI. Jan 15 (Interfax) - Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen said he intends to restrict real estate transactions in Finland for Russians and other people from non-EU states.

"Finland intends to toughen the conditions for issuing permits for transactions with real estate to people and companies outside the European Union and the European economic zone in general. A legal substantiation for this decision is being sought, it will be made in spring," he told Uutissuomalainen.

The restrictions will mean, for example, that there will be stricter control over real estate lease and the history of already sold objects will be studied, Hakkanen said.

The defense ministry made three negative decisions on real estate transactions in which buyers were from outside the EU or the European economic zone last week, the media outlet said.