Russians Are Suspected Of Illegally Obtaining Finnish Citizenship On A Large Scale

The scope of the case took the investigators by surprise.

Nearly two dozen Russians are suspected of being involved in illegal schemes to obtain Finnish citizenship, according to Yle. According to the investigation, at least 12 people may have obtained Finnish citizenship without proper grounds. For another five people, the naturalization process had not been completed by the time the investigation began in 2024. According to Criminal Police Commissioner Teppo Tähkinen, the scale of the case came as a surprise to investigators. The police believe that more people were involved in the scheme, but the statute of limitations for those incidents has already expired.

The alleged criminal scheme had been operating since 2003. The main suspect in the case drew up fictitious employment contracts, which provided grounds for obtaining a residence permit and subsequently citizenship. According to the police and the Border Guard, the Russian suspect registered several companies in southeastern Finland starting in 2003. However, these companies conducted virtually no actual business. Those involved in the scheme are suspected of paying for such employment.

During the investigation, it was revealed that the main suspect, along with his accomplices, took Finnish language exams and completed academic assignments on behalf of others. Investigators are also looking into possible document forgery. Those involved in the case are suspected of fraud under aggravating circumstances.

To obtain Finnish citizenship, one must typically have lived in the country for eight years with a residence permit or permanent residence status. One must also demonstrate proficiency in Finnish or Swedish at the B1 level and have a verifiable income. In 2025, 14,689 people were granted Finnish citizenship. The largest number of applications for citizenship were submitted by citizens of Russia, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, and Somalia.

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