Minister Ranne: "Sanctions compliance monitoring is built on close cooperation between authorities and being developed constantly"

Ministry of Transport and Communications

21.12.2023 13.05 | Published in English on 29.12.2023 at 17.06

Press release

Lulu Ranne, Minister of Transport and Communications. (Photo: Fanni Uusitalo, Prime Minister's Office)

During the past autumn, the media reported on various suspected ways of attempting to circumvent air travel sanctions against Russia. Commissioned by Minister of Transport and Communications Lulu Ranne, the Ministry of Transport and Communications and the competent authorities have examined ways to better prevent the circumvention of sanctions.

"We will do everything we can to prevent circumvention of sanctions. We are continuing our extensive cooperation with other authorities and constantly seeking new ways to prevent possible circumvention. For obvious reasons, we cannot publish any details," says Minister Ranne.

"Now that the Russian border is closed, border traffic has practically stopped. When the border will be opened at some point without a risk to Finland's security, we will be better prepared than ever to prevent possible circumvention of sanctions," says Ranne.

Sanctions legislation prohibits violation and circumvention of sanctions. The Criminal Code of Finland criminalises violation of sanctions as a regulation offence, which is punishable by the maximum sentence of imprisonment for four years. Moreover, parties participating or assisting in circumvention of sanctions can be listed as subject to the European Union's sanctions against individuals.

In Finland, particularly Finnish Customs and the Finnish Border Guard monitor compliance with air travel sanctions. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs is the national sanctions authority. The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom is the authority overseeing aviation in general.

Next steps

The parties in the branch of government of the Ministry of Transport and Communications will continue to cooperate closely with different authorities and to constantly seek ways to enhance the monitoring of sanctions compliance.