Finland closes border posts after a significant increase in the number of asylum seekers via Russia | Abroad

The Finnish government announced the measures at a press conference after a crisis meeting, reports ‘Helsingin Sanomat’. This concerns the Vaalimaa, Nuijamaa, Imatra and Niirala border crossings, which will close completely. According to Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen, Finland is prepared to take additional measures if it turns out that these are not sufficient. “We want this to stop,” said Prime Minister Orpo.

According to Finland, the Russian authorities have recently introduced a new policy and are now also allowing asylum seekers through without valid papers. This mainly concerns people from Iraq, Yemen, Syria, Turkey and Somalia.

For the time being, it is not yet a matter of massive numbers, but according to Finland there has recently been a noticeable difference. Between August 1 and November 12, 91 people arrived in Finland without the necessary papers. Last week there were suddenly 71 migrants. On Tuesday there were 55 asylum seekers, on Wednesday there were 66.

The Finnish Prime Minister already lashed out at Russia this week. “It is clear that these people are getting help. They are also accompanied or transported to the border by border guards,” the government chief told the media.

It would not be the first time that neighboring countries of the EU appear to be allowing migrants to pass on a large scale to exert political pressure. In 2021, Belarus, an ally of Russia, was accused by Europe of deliberately creating a migration crisis by flying in and forwarding asylum seekers.

Finland, which belongs to the European Union, has a border of more than 1,300 kilometers with Russia. The country became a member of NATO in April. The country did not want to join a military alliance for a long time, but that view changed after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February last year.

LOOK. State Secretary De Moor: “Asylum crisis will not be resolved tomorrow”