Finland has decided to close four of its border crossings with Russia, citing a surge in asylum seekers allegedly instigated by Moscow.
The Finnish government accuses Russia of deliberately channeling migrants to these crossings in retaliation for Finland's recent decision to join NATO, as per BBC News.
Finland's Border Closure Sparks Regional Concerns
Members of the Finnish Border Guard agency (RAJA) with dog patrol along a section of the pilot border fence during a press visit to the Finnish-Russian border in Imatra, Finland on October 26, 2023. Finland's border guard builds a 200-kilometre-long border fence with Russia after Moscow invaded Ukraine last year.
This move has triggered strong reactions from both sides and has far-reaching implications for bilateral relations and regional stability.
According to border guards, around 300 asylum seekers arrived in Finland within a week, prompting the Finnish Border Guard to take action. Barriers are set to be erected at the Vaalimaa, Nuijamaa, Imatra, and Niirala border posts in southeast Finland.
These areas have witnessed an increase in illegal crossings, predominantly by citizens of Syria, Yemen, and Iraq. The Finnish government views these measures as a response to changes in Russia's border policies.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded by expressing deep regret over Finland's decision, deeming it a "big mistake" that could damage bilateral relations. He asserted that Russia has never threatened Finland in modern history and criticized Helsinki for choosing this path.
Finland's Prime Minister, Petteri Orpo, accused Russia of actively facilitating the entry of individuals without proper documentation into Finland. The primary objective of the barriers is to prevent unauthorized access, according to Matti Pitkaniitty, the head of international affairs for the Border Guard.
The Finnish government has also accused Moscow of either encouraging or ignoring undocumented migrants crossing the border, a claim that Russia vehemently denies.
The closure of these four border crossings, among the busiest points of travel between the two countries with approximately 3,000 people crossing daily, comes amid growing tensions between Russia and Finland, according to Al Jazeera.
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Finland's NATO Decision
This escalation can be attributed to Helsinki's decision to join NATO, a move Moscow saw as an attempt to destabilize Finland. The European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, voiced her support for Finland's actions, condemning Russia's instrumentalization of migrants as "shameful."
Furthermore, Finland's neighboring country, Norway, which shares a border with Russia in the Arctic, has expressed readiness to close its border at short notice if necessary.
Effective from Saturday, asylum seekers arriving via Russia will only be allowed to submit their applications at two northern border crossings, Salla and Vartius. Finland shares a lengthy 1,340km (833-mile) frontier with Russia, serving as the European Union's external border.
Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February the previous year, Finland, an EU member, abandoned its decades-long policy of military non-alignment and officially joined NATO in April. In response, Russia had warned of unspecified "countermeasures."
Since then, Finland's Border Guard has been tracking increased undocumented arrivals, primarily from Africa and the Middle East. Nevertheless, Finland's ombudsman for non-discrimination emphasized the country's duty under international treaties and EU law to allow asylum seekers to seek protection.
In addition to these border closures, Finland is constructing a 200km (124-mile) fence along a section of its border with Russia, expected to be completed by 2026. The Finnish government exercised its authority to close the border under the Border Guard Act, specifically, Section 16, which empowers it to take such action when necessary to prevent a serious threat to public order or national security.
Justifying the decision, the Finnish State Council cited a recent surge in illegal immigration and accused Russian authorities of organizing and enticing Belarusian migrants to enter Finland through Russia. Russia has yet to respond to these allegations, leaving the situation uncertain and tense, Jurist News reported.
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