Finnish Defense Minister rejects property transaction application in Sysmä

Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen has rejected an application for a property transaction in Sysmä, according to Uutissuomalainen. The application was submitted by a 61-year-old businessman who holds Swiss and Russian citizenship. The property was intended to serve as a vacation home for the applicant.

The decision, as quoted by Uutissuomalainen, indicates that the applicant is the CEO of a company he owns, which operates in the defense sector. The negative ruling is justified partly on the grounds that although the applicant’s business is registered in Switzerland, his dual citizenship could compel him to act in accordance with the interests of the Russian government.

The decision has been appealed to an administrative court and is not yet final.