Helsinki closes four of its land borders with Russia. Finland suspects Moscow of trying to destabilize the country which joined NATO in April.
Finland will close half of its border crossing points with Russia overnight from Friday to Saturday. She accuses Moscow of trying to destabilize the country, which joined NATO in April, by letting undocumented migrants cross the border.
Finland, which shares a 1,340 km border with Russia, has seen an influx of visa-free migrants from the Middle East and Africa, particularly Iraq, Somalia and Yemen, since the end of August, according to its border guards.
“The government has taken the decision to close the Vaalimaa, Nuijamaa, Imatra and Niirala crossing points on the border between Finland and Russia”said Interior Minister Mari Rantanen during a press conference on Thursday.
This closure of the four points on the south-eastern border will be effective at midnight on the night of Friday to Saturday, with four crossings remaining open further north. It will last until February 18, 2024 and the study of asylum applications will be concentrated in two centers.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the allegations were “unfounded”, adding that Moscow was not obliged to “screen” migrants.
For decades, border authorities in both countries have worked together to prevent the entry of people without visas and passports.
Additional sources • AFP