Exiled ex Finnish MP wants Russian citizenship

A former lawmaker of Perussuomalaiset (Finns Party), the second largest component of the four-party alliance government, who was granted political asylum in Russia in 2025, expressed his interest to apply for Russian citizenship, according to a recent report published by Russian state news agency RIA Novosti.

The lawmaker named Ano Turtiainen, who was expelled from the party for racist posts on social media, in an interview with the agency said that he was learning the Russian language and wants to build a new life there.

"I'm learning Russian a little every day. I plan to apply for Russian citizenship and aim to build a new life here," said the RIA Novosti report published on Monday, quoting Turtiainen as saying.

The former Finnish lawmaker also criticised Finland, saying that he does not consider Finland an independent country anymore.

"Actually, Finland no longer exists. It is part of the fascist West," he added.

In December 2025, Turtiainen said that he was granted political asylum in Russia.

In June, 2020, the party expelled him from its parliamentary group for making racist posts on Twitter.

He had made a series of posts on Twitter that time insulting George Floyd, who died in late May, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, after a police officer had knelt on his neck while the African American was in police custody.

Earlier, before his election as a lawmaker, Turtiainen was fined for making a Facebook post appreciating an attempted arson attack on a refugee reception centre.

Turtiainen was elected MP from Perussuomalaiset in 2019, representing Southeast Finland.