Two students from Åland who have studied in Helsinki have received call-up papers from the Finnish Defence Forces, despite the fact that their home province is autonomous and demilitarized, reports Ålandstidning.

The military based its decision on their residency: by moving to Helsinki they had lost their right of domicile in the Åland Islands, which would ordinarily excuse them from military service.

Ålanders can lose their right of domicile if they live outside the province for five years. O

Sören Silverström, chief lawyer at the Åland provincial administration, told Yle that one of the Ålanders called up for military service lost his right of domicile at the end of 2009, and the other at the end of 2011.

When they received their call-up papers, they contacted the Åland government for help, and Silverström is now negotiating with the defence forces. One of the men has now moved back to Åland, and regained his right of domicile there.

The other man has studied to become a doctor, which would demand a longer study period than five years.