Finnish border guards broke law by granting permits to family members

A district court in Finland has fined two border guards for approving permits for their own families to access restricted zones along the Russian border.

The men, both senior officers in Southeast Finland’s border guard, processed and approved permits for relatives to move within the border zone between Finland and Russia, despite being legally disqualified from doing so.

One guard granted his wife a five-year permit for berry picking and fishing in Miehikkälä. The other approved permits for himself, his wife, and his adult daughter for the Virolahti sea area—jurisdiction that should have been handled by the Gulf of Finland coast guard. His daughter’s permit also covered land areas in Virolahti.

The offences occurred in July 2021 and May 2025. Both men argued in court that the permits were justified, even if handled by someone else. The district court ruled they had clearly violated internal guidelines and administrative law by failing to recognise their conflict of interest.

Prosecutors had also sought convictions for abuse of office, but the court dismissed these charges, finding no evidence of personal gain. The first guard was fined €645, the second €975. The rulings are not yet final and may be appealed.