Finland completely closes its border with Russia for 2 weeks
Pravda Ukraine
Finland has decided to temporarily close the last functioning checkpoint on the Russian border. The decision will come into force at midnight from 29 to 30 November and will be valid until 13 December.
Source: Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, as reported by European Pravda with reference to Helsingin Sanomat
Details: Orpo said the government decided to close all border crossing points with Russia, in particular Raya-Jooseppi checkpoint in Lapland which remained operational at the time.
In the near future, it will be possible to apply for asylum only at ports and airports.
Meanwhile, the decision will not affect rail freight transport between Russia and Finland.
The prime minister emphasised that the reason for the decision was Russia’s attempt to exert influence on Finland which is unacceptable for Helsinki.
Only a few migrants applied for asylum at the Raya-Jooseppi checkpoint on Monday, and none on Tuesday. However, Petteri Orpo said Helsinki made such a decision not following the numbers, but a general assessment of the situation.
Background:
- From the middle of November, significantly more people without documents that would give them the right to enter the EU territory began to arrive at checkpoints on the Finnish-Russian border. Previously, Russian border guards did not allow such travellers to leave.
- Finland closed all its checkpoints on the border with Russia, except for one in Lapland. Vaalimaa, Nuijamaa, Imatra and Niirala border crossings were closed to traffic since Saturday.
- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Moscow was directly involved in the appearance of an increasing number of asylum seekers at the Finnish border.
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