Finland has enacted legislation that prohibits citizens of Russia and Belarus from buying real estate anywhere in the country. The measure, which took effect on 15 July, replaces a case-by-case vetting system with a blanket ban on all property transactions involving individuals from the two nations. Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen said the reform was overdue and aimed at removing opportunities for espionage or sabotage. “The need for this existed even before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,” he wrote, adding that work on the bill began almost two years ago after officials identified expanding security risks linked to Russian and Belarusian ownership. Parliament passed the law in April, designating Russia and Belarus as states whose citizens pose a threat to internal security. The restriction forms part of a broader effort by Helsinki to harden defences following Moscow’s 2022 assault on Ukraine, which has already prompted Finland to join NATO and start reinforcing its 1,300-kilometre land border with Russia.