Finland’s police and border guard authorities have launched an investigation into a scheme that allegedly enabled individuals to obtain Finnish citizenship and residence permits through fictitious employment. According to officials, this operation could have been active for more than two decades.
At least 12 Russian nationals illegally acquired Finnish citizenship during the scheme’s operation, with five additional applicants still pursuing residency permits at the time of the investigation. Investigators discovered that the primary suspect orchestrated fake job placements for foreigners seeking residency and citizenship. The preliminary findings also revealed that the suspect and his accomplices administered Finnish language exams and academic coursework to participants in the scheme.
Further details indicate defendants paid for non-existent employment through shell companies established by the suspect as early as 2003.
