Finland closes all Russian border checkpoints except least accessible one

The Finnish government has decided to close seven checkpoints on its border with Russia in response to the growing migration pressure and Russian border guards’ involvement in it, leaving only the most remote checkpoint open.

Source: Petteri Orpo, Finnish Prime Minister, as reported by European Pravda with reference to Yle 

Details: In accordance with the Finnish government’s decision, three more border crossing points will be closed in Kuusamo, Salla and Vartius on the land border between Finland and Russia on the night of 24-25 November.

There will be only one crossing point on the Finnish-Russian border, Raja-Jooseppi, where asylum seekers will be able to apply for international protection.

This border crossing point is the most difficult for Russians to reach and is open for only four hours a day.

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.
• The decision to close seven checkpoints on the Finnish-Russian border will be valid until 25 February.
• 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.
• Media reports suggested that Finland was ready to close the remaining checkpoints still operating on the border with Russia on the night of 21-22 November due to Russia's weaponisation of illegal migrants.

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