The one-time member of the Finns Party sought and received asylum in Russia last year, citing political persecution in Finland.Ano Turtiainen at a Power Belongs to the People party conference in Mikkeli. Image: Juho Liukkonen / YleYle News7:50Former MP Ano Turtiainen and his wife Minna are suspected of committing financial crimes in Finland between 2018 and 2020, according to a report by Helsingin Sanomat.The newspaper writes that Turtiainen has been charged with an aggravated accounting offence while his wife faces the same charge as well as facing an additional accusation of debtor dishonesty.Although HS did not reveal what the criminal charges relate to, it is well known that Turtiainen and his wife co-owned a now-bankrupt company called Gometal, which sold powerlifting equipment online.South Savo District Court declared the company bankrupt in April 2022 following a request from the Finnish Tax Administration.According to HS's sources, both Turtiainen and his wife have denied during the preliminary investigation that any crimes were committed.Controversial careerTurtiainen served as an MP for the Finns Party in 2019–2020 before he was first expelled from the party's parliamentary group — after he published a tweet mocking George Floyd — and subsequently dismissed from the party itself.He then set up his own party, Power Belongs to the People (acronymed in Finnish as VKK), and established a one-man parliamentary group to see out the remainder of his term in parliament. He failed in his bid for re-election in 2023.Turtiainen and his wife have since moved to Russia, where they applied for and received asylum in 2025, citing political persecution in Finland. Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported during the summer that Turtiainen now plans to apply for Russian citizenship.Aside from the financial crime allegations, Turtiainen has also been charged with incitement against a national group.