The Defence Ministry has blocked real estate deals by six would-be buyers from outside the EU and EEA on security grounds.

The prospective purchasers were individuals or companies owned by citizens of Russia, Uzbekistan, China and Canada.

Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen (NCP) made the announcement on Friday, warning that real estate purchases may be used "to gain a foothold in the country or to undermine public authorities’ ability to act".

"Broad-spectrum threats"

Finnish authorities must take measures to prevent a variety of broad-spectrum threats due to changes in the security environment, he added.

The negative decisions concerned properties in Imatra, Savonlinna and Parikkala in eastern Finland, Sysmä and Raseborg in the south as well as Kittilä in Finnish Lapland.

The applicants had various stated plans for the properties, ranging from business to residential and recreational use.

"We will not allow real estate acquisitions when we cannot rule out a threat to national security, homeland defence, border security and security of supply," Häkkänen said in the statement.

In January, the Defence Ministry rejected four attempted real estate transactions by a Russian man in Sipoo, just east of Helsinki.