Claims have been filed by Ukrainian companies.
This year, the Law Enforcement Compliance Service seized nearly four million euros from the Russian state.
As in previous cases, the claimant is the Ukrainian state energy company "Naftogaz" and its subsidiaries. The seizures are related to Russia's military operations in Ukraine.
The decision indicates that the amount of approximately €3.7 million, temporarily confiscated from the state, pertains to an EU program for cooperation at external borders that was in effect several years ago, in which Finland participated alongside Russia.
According to the documents from the bailiff, Russia managed to make a financial contribution of approximately €3.7 million before the onset of the aggressive war in Ukraine in 2022.
The money ultimately ended up under the control of the Ministry of Employment and the Economy. The project was terminated after the start of the aggressive war.
The funds paid by Russia remained under the ministry's control, from which the bailiff has now seized them.
The confiscation decision remains in effect until further notice.
The seizure of assets is a precautionary measure that ensures that the owner of the property cannot sell or transfer it to another party. The purpose of the seizure is to protect the interests of the creditor or plaintiff.
Since 2024, the Law Enforcement Compliance Service has confiscated Russian assets totaling at least €40 million.
In addition to asset confiscation, Finland has begun legal proceedings to recover damages from Russia.
Last week, Yle reported that the Helsinki District Court ordered the enforcement of compensation of €1 billion, which the Hague Arbitration Court mandated Russia to pay in 2023.
Thus, Russia must compensate "Naftogaz" for damages incurred after the seizure and destruction of the company's assets in Crimea in 2014.
According to the Convention, each contracting state must recognize the arbitration decision as binding and ensure its enforcement on its territory, which Finland has done.
Russia has appealed this decision in the Court of Appeals.
If the decision becomes legally binding, the confiscated Russian state assets in Finland, amounting to over €4 billion, must be transferred to "Naftogaz" as compensation.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UlkPbo4prmk?si=NIN1Tl-GjPgWAvz2" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
