The NATO country’s government accuses Russia of allowing people without valid documents to enter Finland. Only one border crossing from Finland to Russia is passable.
Despite the closure of almost all border crossings with Russia, 55 migrants from the neighboring country arrived in Finland on Saturday. Most are young people who crossed the border in Raja-Jooseppi, north of the Arctic Circle, the border guard told broadcaster Yle. The head of the broadcaster, Kimmo Louhelainen, said he was not surprised by the situation. “We are prepared for larger numbers,” he said.
In recent weeks, the Finnish border guard has recorded a sharp increase in the number of people, mainly from the Middle East, who entered Russia by bicycle without the necessary documents and sought asylum in Finland. According to official information, there have been around 700 since the beginning of August.
The government accuses Russia of allowing people without valid documents to enter Finland. Therefore, the NATO member recently closed almost all border crossings with its eastern neighbor. Now only the remote Raja-Jooseppi crossing in Lapland is open. Asylum applications can also be lodged there. The regulation is valid until December 23rd.
In Helsinki, on Saturday, around 100 people demonstrated against the closure of the crossings.