Finland, NATO’s newest member, closed the only border post with Russia it has kept open this Wednesday, in response to what it says is increasing migratory pressure on the Russian side.
The decision to close the entire 1,340 km border extension was taken by Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s office, amid concerns over Russia’s routing of migrants to wage a ‘hybrid war’ and destabilize the Nordic country after joining the NATO.
The Raja-Jooseppi border crossing, in the Finnish Arctic region of Lapland, located about 250 kilometers from the Russian city of Murmansk, was closed today at 2 p.m. local time.
Ville Ahtiainen, deputy commander of the Finnish Border Guard in Lapland, said no migrants attempted to cross the border in Raja-Jooseppi today.
Finnish authorities said around 1,000 immigrants without visas or valid documentation have arrived at the border since August, with more than 900 arriving in November.
Finland forms a significant part of NATO’s northeastern flank and serves as the European Union’s external border to the north.
Migrants mainly come from the Middle East and Africa, from countries such as Afghanistan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria and Yemen.
According to authorities, a significant number of migrants have applied for asylum in the country after crossing the border.
Finland accuses Russia of deliberately sending migrants to the border area, which is tightly controlled by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB).
The formal closure of the entire Finnish border with Russia comes into effect at midnight today.
The Raja-Jooseppi border crossing was the only point that remained open after the closure of the seven border crossings earlier this month.
Relations between the two countries deteriorated after Finland’s accession to NATO, becoming the alliance’s 31st member, in May 2022.
The Kremlin denies allegations that migrants are being sent to Finland and also deplores the closure of Finland’s borders.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova confirmed Finland’s formal notification of the closure of the last border control.
Zakharova stated that by closing the border, Finland would harm its own citizens.
Regarding the deployment of troops from NATO allies to the Finland-Russia border, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that “no one and nothing threatens Finland”, classifying the measure as “excessive”.
Peskov warned of “the emergence of tensions during the build-up of additional troops on the border.” “The Finns must be clearly aware that the concentration of troops on our border will pose a threat to us,” he said.
There are currently no NATO soldiers permanently stationed on Finnish territory or along the border with Russia, with the exception of foreign forces participating in regular military alliance exercises with the Finnish Armed Forces.
Some experts cited by Finnish media believe Peskov was referring to the EU’s border agency Frontex, which has sent staff and equipment to help Finnish officials patrol and monitor the country’s vast eastern border.
The total closure of the border between Finland and Russia will last at least two weeks, until December 13, after which a border crossing can be reopened, the Finnish government said.
Source: DN
