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Igor Kesaev PHOTO: Reuters
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Igor Kesaev is building residential premises and a helicopter pad on the site
The sale of a large Finnish island in a strategically important area has forced the Helsinki authorities to rethink their laws for selling property to foreigners. Igor Kesayev, a 54-year-old Russian, struck a deal in 2020 under the guise of a “golden passport” issued to the businessman by Cypriot authorities, Euroactive reported.
Thanks to his Cypriot passport, Kesayev was able to circumvent the requirements of the Finnish Ministry of Defense, which would not have allowed him to acquire the island in eastern Finland if he had identified himself as a Russian citizen.
Igor Kesaev is one of the tobacco “kings” in Russia – it is estimated that about 70% of the market is under his control. He is also the owner and president of the Mercury Group, which owns a number of alcohol companies. His name is also associated with the arms trade, and according to unofficial data, he maintains close ties with the mafia, the Russian Federal Security Service and Russia’s Central Intelligence Agency, the Observer website writes. Kesayev ranks 727th in the latest Forbes list of billionaires.
It was his links with Russia’s intelligence services and the underworld that caused concern in the Finnish Ministry of Defense. It is common practice for Moscow to use oligarchs for its political and strategic purposes. In addition, housing and a helicopter pad have been built on the island, which was not discussed in the deal.
According to the laws of the country the authorities
may take the island from Kesaev if they deem
that there is a threat to national security
Finnish Defense Minister Anti Kaikonen announced that the need for further clarifications within the law on the sale of real estate to foreigners is being considered. A report on the effectiveness of this law will be presented to parliament later this year.
“Such situations are difficult to track,” he said. – It is possible that in such situations the legislation needs adjustments. It probably won’t be easy, but I personally want it to be as complete as possible in all respects, “Kaikonen added. According to him, within the framework of the current laws, Finland can take sufficient measures to suppress suspicious activity.
According to Euroactive, a similar case occurred in 2018, when the Finnish authorities invaded a group of islands in the western archipelago of the country. It turned out that the Russian oligarch Pavel Melnikov acquired them and built accommodation and other infrastructure. Accused of money laundering, Melnikov then sold the islands.
The “Golden Passport”, which is given to foreign investors,
actually represents
purchase for citizenship
Under such a scheme, many Russian oligarchs have received Cypriot passports, which entitle them to travel without a visa to more than 150 countries.
This practice is a matter of serious concern in the European Union. The EC points out that this is illegal and undermines the integrity of the union’s citizenship status.
“We must not forget that ‘golden passports’ potentially allow a person to have access to the 27 member states of the European Union,” warned EC chief Ursula von der Leyen.
A year ago, the European Commission opened proceedings against Cyprus and Malta for “selling” EU citizenship through “golden passports” to wealthy investors.
Dissatisfaction also arose in Cypriot society. In November 2020, Cyprus eventually canceled the scheme following a report by Al Jazeera TV. A documentary was shown showing reporters interested in buying property on behalf of a wealthy businessman. The Chinese citizen was actively looking for a Cypriot passport, despite having a criminal record. A year earlier, Cyprus confiscated the “golden passports” of 26 foreigners, including nine Russians.
Bulgaria also issues Golden Passports. A European Parliament report on EU-Russia political relations urges Bulgaria and Malta to abandon their “golden passport” regimes. The document, which was discussed in the EP last month, was addressed to the Council of the EU, the European Commission and the Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borel.
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