The reason is the increasing flow of undocumented asylum seekers from the Russian side of the border.
Finland believes that Russia has let them through on purpose in order to exert pressure on the Finnish authorities.
– No form of border crossing is possible at these border stations, says the Finnish Minister of the Interior, Mari Rantanen.
– It is not about asylum or immigration policy. This is a question of national security.
Abandoned bicycles and an electric scooter at the border crossing at Salla in Finland.
Photo: Jussi Nukari / AP
The closure of the Raja-Jooseppi border crossing comes into effect on the night of Thursday, and will last for two weeks until 13 December.
Russia dissatisfied with border closures
Rantanen says that the purpose is to put an end to the “threat”, and that the restrictions can be eased once they have succeeded.
– At the same time, we are prepared that the phenomenon will continue and even become larger.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
Photo: SPUTNIK / Reuters
Russian authorities have not responded to the decision that came on Tuesday afternoon.
But after the first border crossings closed two weeks ago, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said according to the Moscow Times:
– We are deeply dissatisfied that the Finnish authorities have chosen to deliberately move away from what should be a good relationship.
Russia has also warned of “counter-measures” in response to Finland becoming a member of NATO in April.
Still open for goods transport
Just under a week ago, it became known that all but one border crossing would be closed. This now applies to all border crossings between the two countries.
They will still be open for shipping goods, but asylum applications will only be received at Finnish airports and ports.
The prime minister gave the reason at the press conference that Russia sends undocumented asylum seekers to the Finnish side of the border on purpose.
Orpo says that the measures being introduced this week “would not be necessary if Russia had not changed its approach” to border traffic.
Photo: LEHTIKUVA / Reuters
– It is about Russia’s influencing activities, and we do not accept them, he said.
The government in Finland already tried last week to close the entire eastern border, write Helsingin sanomat newspaper.
It was not done, because the Minister of Justice believed that such a decision could be illegal for the government to implement, according to the newspaper.
Not far from Storskog
Finland has a total of nine border crossings with Russia, and also has the longest land border with Russia at 1,340 kilometers.
As the crow flies, Raja-Jooseppi is only 150 kilometers from the Norwegian-Russian border crossing at Storskog in Sør-Varanger.
Between Murmansk and Raja Jooseppi there is a side road north to the Russian town of Nikel, which is only a few tens of kilometers from Storskog.
But so far the pressure has not increased at the Norwegian border.
The border station at Storskog in August this year.
Photo: Kristin Humstad
– There has been no change in the traffic over Storskog since the last update from the chief of staff here in Finnmark, says operations manager Einride Hals in the Finnmark police district.
The Ministry of Justice and Emergency Preparedness informs NRK that daily meetings are held between the Police’s Immigration Unit, the Finnmark Police District and the Police Directorate to monitor developments.
– The government is invited to close the border if necessary. We are familiar with the situation in Finland, and are following developments closely, says Minister of Justice and Emergency Emilie Enger Mehl.
Sweden and Estonia also worried
Estonia, too, recently warned Russia about using migrants to exert “pressure on Europe’s eastern border”, according to Reuters.
Around 30 migrants in one week, most of them from Somalia and Syria, had then tried to get into the country via the Narva border crossing.
None of them asked for asylum and all were asked to return, writes the news agency.
People wait at the Narva border crossing in Russia. The ticket is from 18 September.
Photo: JANIS LAIZANS / Reuters
The Swedish defense for its part fears that boat refugees may arrive from the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad as part of Russia’s attempts to destabilize the region, reports SVT.
In a new report, it is pointed to as one of several scenarios together with computer attacks and sabotage actions underwater.
– It may not be the most likely scenario, but it is undeniably a possible scenario, says Michael Claesson, chief of the Swedish defense staff.
2023-11-28 18:47:50
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