Helsingin Sanomat on Tuesday was revealed that the Ministry of the Interior intends to review the application process for Timchenko’s entire family.
According to Finnish reports, it was possible to make exceptions for both Timchenko and his daughter. Ksenia Frank.
Helsingin Sanomat on Friday wrote Frank was granted citizenship in a seemingly extraordinary process only about a month after the Migration Agency’s (Migri) predecessor, the Finnish Immigration Service, had rejected a request for expedited processing of his application. Migri, the newspaper added, has not been able to find out why authorities are speeding up the process against its predecessor’s decision.
Matti Saarelainen, the former head of the Finnish Immigration Service, has previously admitted to urging officials to speed up Gennadi Timchenko’s application. He was reportedly asked to help in the case in 1999 by his friend, Kai Paananenwho is Timchenko’s business partner.
Supo’s investigation published last week shows that the oligarch did not meet the language requirements for citizenship and did not grant an exception according to the law. According to the investigation, Supo was eager to give a statement about his application and to interview him, but despite Saarelainen’s promises, the application was not submitted to the intelligence service.
A total of four members of a family of five received Finnish citizenship in 1999–2000.
Haavisto stated to the public broadcasting company on Tuesday that the case should be thoroughly investigated.
“Looking at these different responses and explanations, I’m left with the feeling that someone may have been intentionally given priority and that there was a reason for the treatment. It would be good if these reasons were known, he told YLE.
Aleksi Teivainen – HT
Source: The Nordic Page