Suspicion has been raised that a series of home invasions targeting incumbent lawmakers has recently occurred in Finland, including a "dirty tactic" where mysterious feces were left in a toilet.

According to the British daily The Telegraph on the 6th (local time), as many as 20 Finnish lawmakers have reported that their homes appeared to have been broken into within just the past week.

In particular, The Telegraph reported that one of these lawmakers discovered mysterious feces left in the toilet of their home bathroom.

Police have launched an investigation into these break-in incidents.

Suspicion is spreading within Finnish political circles that Russia may be behind these incidents.

A senior lawmaker from Finland's ruling party pointed to the incidents as a Russian plot aimed at intimidating Finnish parliamentarians.

He claimed, "It is a method used by Russian intelligence agencies to show politicians that they are being watched," adding, "This is intended to cause confusion and concern."

The Telegraph reported that using spies to break into the homes of politicians or diplomats in rival countries and deliberately leaving traces behind to instill fear is indeed a longstanding Russian operation.

In some countries, Russian spies and agents have reportedly used methods such as urinating in the bathrooms of diplomats and journalists and leaving it there.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) also reported that in 2023, a high-ranking U.S. official visiting Russia found human feces in their luggage, which was the work of operatives from Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB).

Sarah Rainsford, a former BBC Russia correspondent, made a similar statement in her 2024 memoir, "Goodbye to Russia."

She recounted that spies broke into her apartment at the time and left a mark of their visit by "leaving large defecation in every bathroom and not flushing."

Such attempts by Russia are one of the Cold War-era techniques aimed at targeting dissidents, amplifying their anxiety, and breaking their psychological state.

However, The Telegraph noted that these "dirty operations" appear to have recently surfaced in Finland.

Finland is a member state at the eastern edge of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), sharing a 1,340-kilometer border with Russia, amid escalating security threats between the two countries.

In particular, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Finland joined NATO in 2023, abandoning its principle of military non-alignment and sharply heightening confrontation with Russia.

Regarding the break-ins at politicians' homes, Finnish President Alexander Stubb stated, "An attack against a member of parliament is an attack against democracy," adding, "This must not be tolerated in any form, and we will stand together with all members of parliament."
 
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