The Finnish government is sticking to its decision to keep its entire border with Russia closed, the country’s Prime Minister Petteri Orpo confirmed in an exclusive interview with Finnish Broadcasting Company Ale.
According to a report by SchengenVisainfo.com, the Prime Minister pointed out in an interview that the border closure cannot be lifted as long as Russia continues to push migrants to the Finnish border.
Judging by the information I have at the moment, nothing has changed in Russia.
He also pointed out that border security is an important issue for Finland and appropriate measures need to be taken to protect it. A decision on further extension of the border closure is expected in the coming days. The same deadline was scheduled to expire next Sunday, January 14th.
Finland blames Russian authorities for the recent wave of migrants that have flooded its borders from Russia, claiming that Russian authorities are even transporting migrants and helping them reach Finnish territory.
In November 2023, the country closed all its borders except one, the Rajah Giuseppi border, to prevent irregular migration. Soon following the closure of other border points, the Raja Giuseppi border crossing was also closed on November 30 due to the influx of migrants at this time.
According to the Finnish Border Agency (RAIA), around 900 asylum seekers, mainly from Kenya, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria and Yemen, arrived in Finland from Russia in November.
Prime Minister Orupo said at the time that the move would help curb the escalating challenge posed by Russian-mediated migration.
Russia has enabled the instrumentalization of its people and is guiding them to the Finnish border even in harsh winter conditions. Finland is determined to put an end to this phenomenon.
On December 14, the Valimaa and Nyirala border crossings reopened, with the Prime Minister warning that they would be closed again if the situation started to deteriorate, which ended up happening.
According to RAIA, on December 14 alone, 93 illegal migrants arrived in Finland through the Nyilala border crossing, the highest number ever to reach this border point in a single day.
At the time, Finland’s Interior Minister Mari Rantanen accused Russia of continuing to use migrants to destabilize Finland.
TThis is a sign that Russian authorities are continuing their hybrid operations against Finland. This is unacceptable for Finland.
As of October 2023, a total of 3,568 asylum applications and 17,807 temporary protection applications have been submitted to the Finnish authorities. In 2022, the total number of asylum applications reached 5,827, and an additional 47,302 applications for temporary protection, mainly related to the war in Ukraine.