Ilja Janistkin, 42, the founder of anti-immigration website MV-lehti, has died at home according to Iltalehti and STT. Janitskin had been suffering from bowel cancer.
He was in the process of appealing a conviction and 22-month jail sentence handed down for defamation, incitement, copyright infringement, breach of confidentiality, fundraising crimes and gambling charges.
He had also been fined 136,000 euros. The court had not yet given its verdict on his appeal at the time of his death.
Janitskin had tried to break into politics, but failed to gather sufficient nomination cards to enter the presidential election in 2018.
He eventually joined veteran Centre Party politician Paavo Väyrynen’s offshoot 'Seven Stars movement' party, ran for election to parliament and gathered 390 votes.
None of the party's candidates were elected.