Partial mobilization no reason for asylum
Finland bans entry for Russian tourists
09/29/2022, 3:48 p.m
As a result of the partial mobilization, tens of thousands of Russians are fleeing. To prevent transit through Finland, the country is now completely closing its border to Russian tourists. The events surrounding the leaks in the gas pipelines accelerated the decision, said Secretary of State Haavisto.
As of Friday, Finland will no longer allow Russian citizens to enter the Schengen area with tourist visas. The aim is to completely prevent the current “Russian tourism to Finland” and “transit through Finland”, said Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto.
In the past few days, the number of arrivals from Russia has increased significantly as a result of the partial mobilization caused by the Ukraine war. The Russian president’s decision to call up parts of the Russian population capable of military service had a “significant” impact on Finland’s decision, Haavisto said. The “illegal referendums” on the annexation of Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories and the alleged sabotage of the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea have “increased concern” and accelerated the government’s decision.
Partial mobilization no reason for asylum
Helsinki had already announced its decision to close its borders to Russians on tourist visas following Russian President Vladimir Putin announced partial mobilization on September 21. Exceptions apply to entries for humanitarian reasons. In addition, Russians are still allowed to enter Finland to meet their family, work or study there.
But Interior Minister Krista Mikkonen said that partial mobilization alone does not constitute grounds for asylum for Russian citizens unless it can be shown, for example, that the person concerned might be forced to commit war crimes or that he would be subjected to disproportionate punishment in Russia. Corresponding individual decisions would have to be made by the responsible authorities, said Mikkonen.
Finland is thus following the visa regulation for Russians decided by Poland and the three Baltic countries Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia at the beginning of September. Thus, for all five EU countries bordering Russia, there is an entry ban for Russians with tourist visas for the Schengen area. The Schengen area includes 22 EU countries as well as Switzerland and three other countries.
