The chairman of the Russian Chamber of Deputies (Duma), Vyacheslav Volodin, warned Finland on Tuesday that its decision to close almost all border crossings with Russia will cost the Finns three billion euros.
“Finnish authorities have closed all checkpoints on the border with Russia except the northernmost one. This decision will cost the Finns approximately three billion euros”Volodin stated on the social network Telegram.
The Russian politician indicated that, “By lowering an iron curtain to the east, the Finnish government is mainly punishing its citizens and depriving that country of the opportunity for development.”
At the same time, Volodin predicted that Finland will face a number of problems with the West: from a significant increase in military expenditure due to NATO membership to the consequences of sanctions against Russia.
Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo assured on Monday that he is preparing to completely close the eastern border with Russia “in the near future” if refugees from the Middle East continue to arrive through the neighboring country.
Orpo highlighted the notable increase in the number of asylum seekers crossing the border between Finland and Russia in recent weeks as a “hybrid attack” by Moscow.
According to immigration authorities, around 900 third-country refugees entered Finland from Russia in November alone, 30 times more than normal, despite the closure of seven out of eight border crossings in the past two weeks.
The only one that remains open, Raja-Jooseppi, is located far north of the border, in a remote and uninhabited area of northern Lapland.
“We are ready to close the last border crossing if necessary,” Orpo warned, describing Russia’s stance as “aggression against the European Union.”
Source: DN
