Finland has temporarily closed all but one of its eight passenger borders to Russia in response to an unusually large influx of migrants, prompting the Nordic country to condemn Russia.
Over the past few weeks, more than 700 migrants from countries such as Yemen, Afghanistan, Kenya, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia and Syria have entered Finland via Russia. The city of Helsinki claims Russia is herding migrants at its borders, a charge the Kremlin denies.
Finland, which closed four border stations last week, overnight closed all remaining passenger crossings for a month except for the northernmost station, Raja Giuseppi, north of the Arctic Circle.
Raja Giuseppi opened the gates to traffic this morning and announced they would continue to accept asylum applications during the four-hour daily opening hours, according to the Finnish Border Guard.
It added that no migrants arrived overnight outside of business hours.
Border Patrol has increased patrols along the 833-mile border with Russia.
The mission will receive additional resources from the European Union’s border agency Frontex, which on Thursday sent 50 border guards and other staff to Finland and deployed police cars and other equipment to crack down. announced that it would strengthen its activities.