Finland slams shut some Russia border crossings
Finland announced Thursday it was completely closing four border crossings with Russia, shortly after accusing Moscow of pushing undocumented migrants toward the frontier.
“We have acted decisively and swiftly to ensure that the situation on the eastern border does not worsen,” Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said, according to the Finnish news outlet Iltalehti. “Amendments were made to the Border Guard Act during the last parliamentary term specifically for such situations. Now these tools have been used.”
Finnish Interior Minister Mari Rantanen said later at a press conference that “the risk of the situation escalating poses a serious threat to public order and national security,” adding that the closures — which begin Friday night — will be enforced until February 18, 2024.
Finland’s move comes amid an increasing number of asylum-seekers crossing the border from Russia in recent weeks. Some other border crossings will remain open.
“The government’s decision to close border crossing points is a determined response to instrumentalized immigration,” said Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen. “Finland together with our partners and allies does not tolerate hybrid operations in any shape or form.”
According to the Finnish Border Guard, approximately 280 asylum-seekers have crossed the eastern border into Finland from Russia since September.
Earlier this week, Finland’s government said it was considering closing the border with Russia, accusing Moscow of sparking a migration crisis by guiding asylum-seekers to the frontier and allowing them to enter its territory without valid travel documents.
Finland’s mulling of the border move did not go down well in Russia, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Wednesday saying Moscow “deeply regretted” Finland’s decision.
Tensions between the two countries have become increasingly strained since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, prompting Finland’s bid to join the NATO military alliance amid security concerns.
