# Finland to tighten restrictions on Russian athletes after Moscow’s expected return to world ice hockey

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/finland-to-tighten-restrictions-on-russian-athletes-after-moscows-expected-return-to-world-ice-hockey/
- Published: 2026-11-06T21:11:30+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-06T21:20:45+00:00
- Original publisher: Kyiv Independent
- Original article: https://kyivindependent.com/finland-to-tighten-restrictions-on-russian-athletes-after-moscows-return-to-world-ice-hockey/
- Topics: Europe, Government, Politics, World

## Key points

- Finland is preparing new entry limits for Russian athletes.
- Current rules still allow Russian athletes to enter for competitions.
- EU-wide restrictions may feature in a forthcoming sanctions package.

## Summary

Finland is drawing up rules to restrict Russian athletes’ entry, following a sports court ruling that Russia must be allowed back into international ice hockey tournaments. The move matters because several countries have threatened boycotts, and Ukraine has urged governments to bar Russian athletes from entering so Moscow cannot use international sport to improve its image.

Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said the changes were being prepared on a tight schedule after a meeting of the government and President Alexander Stubb. Finland already stopped issuing tourist visas to Russian citizens after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, but its rules still allow entry for sports contests. The EU is also considering measures: its foreign policy chief has said new options will be examined, and an official told the Kyiv Independent that a 22nd sanctions package could be proposed as soon as 11 November, with athlete restrictions at its centre.

## Coverage

- [Kyiv Independent: Finland to tighten restrictions on Russian athletes after Moscow’s expected return to world ice hockey](https://kyivindependent.com/finland-to-tighten-restrictions-on-russian-athletes-after-moscows-return-to-world-ice-hockey/)
- [Meduza: Finland moves to restrict entry for Russian athletes before Helsinki NHL games](https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/11/06/finland-moves-to-restrict-entry-for-russian-athletes-before-helsinki-nhl-games)

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.