Citizenship obtained through fraud: at least 12 people suspected – Russian national allegedly arranged fabricated employment relationships
At least 12 people have fraudulently obtained Finnish citizenship by exploiting fabricated employment relationships and language tests. The suspects are Russian nationals.
At least 12 citizenships obtained through fraud in south-eastern Finland
Yle News reported that police and the South-Eastern Finland Border Guard suspect a Russian national of fraudulently arranging residence permits and citizenships for foreigners. At least 12 people have fraudulently obtained Finnish citizenship, and a fifth person's citizenship process was still ongoing when the preliminary investigation was launched.
Criminal investigator Teppo Tähtinen from South-Eastern Finland Police said the preliminary investigation was initiated in 2024.
– The scale of the case surprised us, Tähtinen says.
The main suspect has established several companies in south-eastern Finland since 2003. According to the authorities, these companies had no genuine business activity or very little. The criminal activity is suspected to have begun shortly after 2003.
The individuals who applied for citizenship are suspected of having paid for both the employment relationship and the arrangement of residence permits and citizenship. A requirement for a Finnish citizenship application is sufficient proficiency in Finnish, but the preliminary investigation has revealed that the main suspect and their accomplice conducted language tests and study programmes on behalf of other people.
Both the main suspect and the individuals who obtained citizenship are Russian nationals. According to the authorities, they would not have had a genuine opportunity to obtain Finnish citizenship without fraudulent means.
Additionally, the case is suspected to be linked to individuals who obtained citizenship previously — investigations could not be conducted regarding them because the possible crime has expired under the statute of limitations.
The suspects are charged with aggravated fraud. The criminal investigation also examines aggravated forgery and aggravated bookkeeping offences.
Source: Yle Uutiset