Finland has announced that it will close its entire border with Russia for the next two weeks in an effort to stop a surge of asylum seekers entering the Nordic nation, according to a report by Reuters.
Previously, Finland had shut down all but one of its remaining border posts to travelers from Russia, leaving only the northernmost crossing open. However, the government has now decided to close even this border post, allowing only goods transport to pass through.
The decision to close the border came after a significant increase in asylum seekers entering Finland from Russia in November. According to the Finnish Border Guard, around 900 asylum seekers from countries such as Kenya, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen have entered Finland from Russia during this time, marking a significant increase from the previous rate of less than one per day.
As a result of the decision, only freight traffic will be allowed to pass between the two countries, effectively halting all non-essential travel and movement across the border.
The move represents a significant step by the Finnish government to address the growing influx of asylum seekers from Russia and aims to mitigate the pressure on the country’s immigration system and resources.
Essi Lehto, the reporter who covered the story, highlighted the government’s decision to close the entire border with Russia and the impact it will have on travel and asylum seekers. The report, edited by Terje Solsvik, Anna Ringstrom, and Louise Rasmussen, provides insight into the measures taken by Finland to address this issue.
