Finland’s Interior Ministry announced on Thursday that it would extend its border closure with Russia until April 14, as the recent surge in asylum seekers, which it blames on Russia, shows no signs of slowing down.
Finland has not reopened its eastern border with Russia since it closed it in December, citing Moscow’s “instrumentalization” of asylum seekers from the Middle East and Africa.
“We see no signs that Russia will change its behavior. On the contrary, the information we have received confirms our assessment that Russia continues its hybrid operations,” Interior Minister Mari Rantanen said in a statement. Ta.
The Russian government denies using asylum seekers in a hybrid attack against Finland.
But Russia also warned that Helsinki’s change from its long-standing non-alignment policy to join NATO in April could lead to “countermeasures.”
Rantanen claimed that “hundreds, if not thousands” of third-country migrants remain on the Russian side, waiting to enter Finland once the border reopens.
“There is reason to believe that this situation will continue for some time,” she stressed.
The official acknowledged that residents living with their families on the Russian side of the border were experiencing difficulties, but stressed the need for Finland to “prioritize national security.”
Meanwhile, asylum seekers remain unable to submit claims for international protection at any transit point along the 1,340-kilometre border between Finland and Russia.