Finland plans to extend the closure of all eight checkpoints along its border with Russia until at least February 11, Finnish news agency YLE reported on January 11, citing the Finnish Interior Minister. It was reported. Mari Rantanen.
Finland completely closed its border with Russia in late November to prevent migrants from arriving via Russia. In November alone, around 900 asylum seekers from countries such as Kenya, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia and Yemen entered Finland from Russia.
Finnish authorities suspected asylum seekers were being driven to the border by Russia in what Helsinki dubbed a “hybrid operation against Finland.”
Helsinki initially decided to reopen its two borders with Russia on December 14, but quickly reversed the decision the next day.
Rantanen said the situation at the Finnish border had not changed since December. The migrants are reportedly waiting to enter Finland on the Russian side of the border.
Rantanen said the Finnish government continues to seek solutions to the crisis.
When Finland reclosed its borders on December 15, Finnish Interior Minister Mari Rantanen blamed the ongoing border crisis on Russian aggression and interference.
“This is a sign that the Russian authorities are continuing their hybrid operations against Finland. This is unacceptable for Finland,” Rantanen said.
Moscow’s strategy is similar to that of Minsk, which orchestrated a migrant crisis along its borders with its EU neighbors.
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