Finland, the new member of NATO, closed this Wednesday the only border post with Russia that it kept open, in response to what it considers growing migratory pressure encouraged from the Russian side.
The decision to close the entire 1,340 kilometer border extension was made by the office of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, concerned about the Russian diversion of migrants to wage a “hybrid war” and destabilize the Nordic country after its entry into NATO.
The Raja-Jooseppi border crossing, in the Finnish region of Lapland, in the Arctic, located about 250 kilometers from the Russian city of Murmansk, was closed this Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. local time.
Ville Ahtiainen, deputy commander of the Finnish Border Guard in Lapland, stated that this Wednesday no migrants attempted to cross the border in Raja-Jooseppi.
Finnish authorities stated that around a thousand migrants have arrived at the border since August, without visas or valid documentation, and in November more than 900 arrived.
Finland forms an important part of NATO’s northeastern flank and acts as the European Union’s external border in the north.
Immigrants come mainly from the Middle East and Africa, from countries such as Afghanistan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria and Yemen.
A significant number of migrants requested asylum in the country after crossing the border, according to authorities.
Finland accuses Russia of deliberately directing migrants to the border area, which is strictly controlled by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB).
The formal closure of Finland’s entire border with Russia comes into effect at midnight this Wednesday.
The Raja-Jooseppi crossing was the only point that remained open after the closure of all seven crossing points earlier this month.
The relationship between both countries worsened after Finland joined NATO, which became the alliance’s 31st member, in May 2022.
The Kremlin denies accusations of sending migrants to Finland and also regrets the closure of Finnish borders.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova confirmed Finland’s formal notification of the closure of the last border checkpoint.
Zakharova claimed that by closing the border, Finland would be harming its own citizens.
Regarding the deployment of troops by NATO allies on the border between Finland and Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that “nothing and no one threatens Finland,” calling the measure “excessive.”
Peskov warned of “the emergence of tensions during the concentration 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 stationed on Finnish territory or along the Russian border on a permanent basis, with the exception of foreign forces participating in regular alliance military exercises with the Finnish armed forces.
Some experts cited by Finnish media believe Peskov was referring to the EU border agency Frontex, which has sent personnel and equipment to help Finnish officials patrol and monitor the country’s long eastern border.
The total closure of the border between Finland and Russia will last for at least two weeks, until December 13, after which a crossing can be reopened, the Finnish Government reported.
Source: TSF
