“Today the government decided to close the Valima, Nuija, Imatra and Nyrala border crossings on the Finnish-Russian land border,” Interior Minister Mari Rantanen told reporters, as Prime Minister Petteri Orpo accused Russia of acting maliciously.
Mr. Orpo accused Russia of deliberate actions to destabilize Finland in response to its accession to NATO earlier this year.
“We were prepared for various Russian actions, maliciousness, so this situation is not unexpected,” said the prime minister.
Helsinki accused Moscow on Tuesday of deliberately allowing migrants to cross the Finnish border without proper travel documents, saying it was aimed at destabilizing the neighboring country.
Moscow said on Wednesday it regretted Finland’s announcement that it would consider closing border crossings with Russia.
“We deeply regret that the Finnish leadership decided to deliberately move away from what used to be good relations,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday when asked about Finland’s comments.
Russia and Finland share a 1,340 km land border that stretches mostly through forests from St. Petersburg to the North Pole.
Ms Rantanen previously said there had been an increase in asylum seekers at the eastern border in recent months, and while the number remains “relatively small, it has increased significantly in a short period of time”.
Officials said 39 people arrived at the southeastern border on Monday, more than the total of 34 asylum seekers last week.
On Thursday, the Border Patrol reported that a total of 280 asylum seekers had arrived at the border since September.
But Mr Rantanen said “numbers are not the important issue”.
“This is not an ordinary question about asylum policy. This is a case where we have indications and information that people enter Finland through machinations,” said the minister.
Markku Hasinen, deputy commander of Finland’s border guard, said the influx of migrants “poses a serious threat to national security (…), complicates the work of authorities in the eastern border area.”
Relations between the two countries have been strained since February 2022, when Moscow invaded Ukraine.
Helsinki has since abandoned decades of military non-alignment and joined NATO in April.
Moscow has warned it will take unspecified retaliatory measures against Finland joining the US-led military alliance.
According to Helsinki, Russia has previously allowed people without proper travel documents, mostly Russians and Ukrainians, to cross the border after it invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
However, “the nationality of the arrivals has changed,” said M. Rantanen.
The Finnish Border Guard’s risk analysis unit said it had noticed an increasing number of asylum seekers from the Middle East and Africa crossing the border since August.
5.5 million A 200 km long fence is being built along the border in the populous Northern European country, which must be completed by 2026.
Currently, Finland’s borders are mainly protected by light wooden fences, which are mainly designed to prevent livestock from straying to the other side.
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#Finland #closes #border #crossing #points #due #influx #migrants #Russia
2024-09-13 09:41:06
Table of Contents
Finland-Russia Border Crisis: Asylum Seekers, National Security, and Diplomatic Tensions
The Finland-Russia border has been a hot topic in recent months, with increasing tensions between the two nations over asylum seekers, border security, and diplomatic relations. Finland’s decision to close several border crossings with Russia has sparked a heated debate, with both countries accusing each other of malicious intentions.
Asylum Seekers and Border Security
Finland’s Interior Minister Mari Rantanen announced the closure of four border crossings with Russia, citing concerns over national security and the increasing number of asylum seekers entering the country. According to Rantanen, the number of asylum seekers has increased significantly in a short period, with 280 individuals arriving at the border since September [[3]]. While the number may seem relatively small, Finnish officials believe that the influx of migrants poses a serious threat to national security [[3]].
The Finnish Border Guard’s risk analysis unit has noticed a change in the nationality of asylum seekers, with an increasing number of individuals from the Middle East and Africa crossing the border since August [[3]]. This shift has raised concerns about the security of Finland’s borders, which are currently protected by light wooden fences designed to prevent livestock from straying [[3]].
Diplomatic Tensions and Retaliatory Measures
Relations between Finland and Russia have been strained since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Helsinki has since abandoned its decades-long policy of military non-alignment and joined NATO in April [[3]]. Moscow has warned that it will take unspecified retaliatory measures against Finland’s decision to join the US-led military alliance [[3]].
Finland has accused Russia of deliberately allowing migrants to cross the border without proper travel documents, aiming to destabilize the neighboring country [[3]]. Russian officials, on the other hand, have expressed regret over Finland’s decision to close border crossings, accusing Helsinki of deliberately moving away from good relations [[2]].
Proposed Legislation and Border Control
Finland has proposed new legislation that would allow border guards to push back migrants without processing their asylum applications at the Finland-Russia border [[3]]. This has raised concerns among human rights organizations, who argue that the proposed law could breach international human rights commitments [[3]].
In response to the increasing number of asylum seekers, Finland has also begun constructing a 200 km long fence along the border, which is expected to be completed by 2026 [[3]]. The fence is aimed at strengthening border security and preventing individuals from crossing the border illegally.
School Trip Incident and Border Incursion
In a recent incident, Finnish students on a school trip were accused of crossing into Russia after filming themselves circling a red and green pole that marks the Russian border post [[2]]. The incident has highlighted the sensitivity of the border region and the need for increased security measures.
Conclusion
The Finland-Russia border crisis is a complex issue, involving concerns over national security, asylum seekers, and diplomatic relations. As tensions between the two nations continue to escalate, it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold. One thing is certain, however: the security and stability of the region depend on finding a solution that addresses the concerns of both countries.
References:
What are the reasons behind Finland’s decision to close its border crossings with Russia?
Finland Closes Border Crossings with Russia Amid Tensions
Finland has taken a decisive step to close four border crossings with Russia, citing concerns over Russia’s malicious actions and the influx of asylum seekers without proper travel documents. The move comes as relations between the two countries continue to deteriorate following Finland’s accession to NATO earlier this year.
Russia’s Malicious Intent
According to Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, Russia is deliberately allowing migrants to cross the border without proper documents, aiming to destabilize Finland. “We were prepared for various Russian actions, maliciousness, so this situation is not unexpected,” Orpo stated. This latest move is seen as a retaliation against Finland’s decision to join the US-led military alliance.
Increased Asylum Seekers
In recent months, Finland has witnessed an increase in asylum seekers at the eastern border, with 280 people arriving since September. While the numbers may seem relatively small, they have grown significantly in a short period. The Finnish Border Guard’s risk analysis unit has noticed an increasing number of asylum seekers from the Middle East and Africa crossing the border since August.
Russian Response
Moscow has expressed regret over Finland’s decision to close the border crossings, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stating, “We deeply regret that the Finnish leadership decided to deliberately move away from what used to be good relations.” Russia has previously allowed people without proper travel documents, mostly Russians and Ukrainians, to cross the border after it invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
National Security Concerns
Finland’s Interior Minister Mari Rantanen stated that the numbers are not the crucial issue, as this is a case of people entering Finland through machinations. Markku Hasinen, deputy commander of Finland’s border guard, warned that the influx of migrants poses a serious threat to national security and complicates the work of authorities in the eastern border area.
Border Security Measures
Finland is currently building a 200 km long fence along the border, which is expected to be completed by 2026. The country’s borders are mainly protected by light wooden fences, designed to prevent livestock from straying to the other side. The new fence is a significant upgrade to Finland’s border security infrastructure.
Backlash from Russia
Moscow has warned it will take unspecified retaliatory measures against Finland joining NATO. Russia has a clear interest in harming Finnish critical national infrastructure and insinuating to the Finnish public that its infrastructure is vulnerable[[[1]]. This latest move by Finland is likely to further escalate tensions between the two countries.
Finland’s decision to close border crossings with Russia is a response to the country’s malicious actions and the growing number of asylum seekers entering the country without proper documents. The move is seen as a necessary step to ensure national security and stability in the region. As tensions between Finland and Russia continue to rise, it remains to be seen how this situation will unfold in the coming weeks and months.
References:
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[2]
[3]
