Finland to close some crossing points on Russia border - PM

Finland to close some crossing points on Russia border - PM
News Desk

By News Desk


Published: 17/11/2023

Finland's prime minister has announced that his country will close some crossings on the border with Russia.

Petteri Orpo said four crossing points in the south would close at midnight on Friday, while two in the north would stay open for asylum applications.

Finland has seen a surge in illegal crossings from Russia in recent days, mostly of third-country citizens.

Mr Orpo accuses Russia of deliberately helping people without proper documents to get to the border.

The prime minister said the Vaalimaa, Nuijamaa, Niirala and Imatra border crossings would close. These points, in the far south-east of the country, have seen a surge in illegal crossings by citizens of countries including Syria, Yemen and Iraq.

The crossings at Salla and Vartius, far to the north, would remain open for asylum applications, Mr Orpo said.

Seventy-five asylum seekers arrived in Finland on Wednesday, according to border guards.

Finnish authorities say the people coming to their country arrive legally in Russia before travelling to the border to pass into Finland and claim asylum.

The prime minister has accused the Russian authorities of engineering the crossings.

"It is clear that these people are helped and they are also being escorted or transported to the border by border guards," Mr Orpo said on Tuesday.

Finland shares a 1,340km (833-mile) border with Russia, Europe's longest.

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