Kremlin says Finland made up reasons for closing border

The Kremlin has said it is "unacceptable" for Finland to accuse Russian border guards of deliberately transporting migrants to the Finnish border in order to provoke a crisis.

Source: Russian news outlet Interfax, quoting Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, reported by European Pravda

Details: According to Peskov, "the border crossing points are being used by those who have a legal right to do so, and in this regard, our border guards are fully complying with all their official instructions".

"And if they [the Finnish authorities – ed.] are trying to find some far-fetched reasons, then again, we do not accept such accusations against us," he said.

The Kremlin also commented on reports that Finland may close the remaining checkpoints on its land border with Russia in the coming days.

"This is nothing but deeply regrettable because we have had long-standing, very good relations with Finland, pragmatic and based on mutual respect. And of course we regret that these relations have been replaced by the purely Russophobic position that the leaders of this country have begun to adhere to," Peskov said.

Background:

• Last Thursday, Finland decided to close the Vaalimaa, Nuijamaa, Imatra and Niirala border crossings due to a surge in illegal migration. They have been closed to traffic since Saturday.
• According to available intelligence data, the government assessed that the Russian authorities are involved in transporting illegal asylum seekers to the Finnish border.
• Finnish border guards previously reported that in recent months, an exceptionally large number of people without entry documents had tried to enter Finland through checkpoints on the southeastern border.

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