Former Finnish MP Ano Turtiainen plans to apply for Russian citizenship
Former Member of Parliament Ano Turtiainen has announced his intention to apply for Russian citizenship, according to reports by the Russian news agency Ria Novosti. Turtiainen, who moved to Russia last year, stated in an interview that he studies Russian daily and aims to build a new life in the country.
"I plan to submit an application to obtain Russian citizenship," Turtiainen told Ria Novosti. He described his life in Russia as "free" and praised the country’s people, calling them "nice" and "good." Turtiainen has spent most of his time in Moscow since relocating (Ilta-Sanomat).
In December, Turtiainen announced that he and his wife, Minna Turtiainen, had been granted political asylum in Russia (Helsingin Sanomat).
Political background and legal issues in Finland
Turtiainen served as an MP from 2019 to 2023, initially elected on the Finns Party’s list. However, he was expelled from the party’s parliamentary group in 2020 after posting a degrading image of George Floyd, whose death in U.S. police custody sparked global protests (Helsingin Sanomat).
Following his expulsion, Turtiainen founded the Power Belongs to the People party but was later removed from it due to his pro-Russia stance. In Finland, he faces charges of incitement against a population group over social media posts, with a hearing scheduled for May 6, 2027. Previous attempts to hold the hearing have failed as Turtiainen has not appeared in court (Ilta-Sanomat).
Earlier this year, Yle reported that the Turtiainens’ apartment in Mikkeli had been repossessed by the housing company due to unpaid maintenance fees (Helsingin Sanomat).
Controversial statements on Finland
In his interview with Ria Novosti, Turtiainen made several contentious claims about Finland. He asserted that Finland "no longer exists" but is instead "part of the fascist West" and that the closure of the Finland-Russia border has been a "catastrophe" for Finnish citizens and the economy (Ilta-Sanomat).
Turtiainen also claimed that the Finnish people have "turned quite strongly against NATO," a statement contradicted by data. A report from the University of Helsinki found that 73% of Finns supported NATO membership this year (Ilta-Sanomat).
Russia researchers interviewed by Helsingin Sanomat last December described Turtiainen’s actions in Russia as a "tool of Kremlin propaganda." In recent months, he has continued to post pro-Russian content on social media.
