Finland’s government announces extension of border closure with Russia until April 14th
HELSINKI — The Finnish government announced Thursday that it will extend its long border closure with Russia for another two months until April 14. That’s because Russia shows no signs of ceasing its “hybrid operations” to gather migrants on its northern European borders. nation.
Finland closed its 1,340 km (832 miles) land border late last year after around 1,300 migrants without proper documents or visas arrived across the border since September. This was an unusually high number just months after Finland joined the NATO alliance.
Most of the immigrants are from the Middle East and Africa. The majority of them seek asylum in Finland, a country of 5.6 million people.
The government said in a statement Thursday that “instrumentalized migration” from Russia poses “a serious threat to Finland’s national security and public order.”
Based on information provided to Cabinet by border, security and other authorities, the government said: “It is likely that instrumental migration will resume once border crossings are opened on the eastern border.”
“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. “There is reason to believe this situation will continue for some time.”
Rantanen said “hundreds, if not thousands, of migrants” are currently staying near the Russian border, waiting for a chance to enter Finland.
Finland had previously accused Russia of deliberately directing migrants to its normally tightly controlled border with the Nordic country. The Kremlin denies the allegations and says it regrets the closure of Finland’s borders.
Since December 15, all eight border crossing points between Finland and Russia have been closed. The South East Railway checkpoint for freight trains at Vainikkala remains open for now.
The government agreed in January to keep the intersection closed until February 11.
Prime Minister Peteri Orupo’s government initially opted to close the border with Russia in November, citing security concerns and Moscow’s “hybrid warfare.” Two selected checkpoints were subsequently opened in eastern and northern Finland on a trial basis, but the influx of migrants continued.
Finland serves as the northern outer border of the European Union and is an important part of NATO’s northeastern flank.
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Follow AP’s global migration coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/migration.
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