Finnish intelligence chief sees Russia as greatest security threat to country

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) - Incoming chief of the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service (SUPO) has that Russia is the greatest security threat to the country, public broadcaster YLE reported on Friday.

"If you look at the changed security environment in Finland, threat is now coming from outside the country's borders from the east,” Juha Martelius said.

"In particular, it is linked to the intensified confrontation between Russia and the West in general and Russia's policy of force in Ukraine. On the other hand, there is also a disregard for certain rules of international law."

He said that a worst-case scenario for Finland, which joined NATO last year in response to Russia's war on Ukraine, would be one where democracy is challenged both internally and externally.

"I don't see this kind of scenario happening in the near future in any way," Martelius said, adding that Finland does have to grapple with radicalisation and terrorism, from both the right and left wings of the political spectrum.

The intelligence chief called for stronger legislation in regard to addressing the situation at Finland's border with Russia.

"It is essential that the government's exceptional legislation on border closures is written in such a way that it [the border situation] does not pose any further threats to our national security," Martelius said.

His comments followed the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation's remarks on Thursday that several dozen potentially dangerous individuals have entered Finland via Russia over the past few months.