Finland to keep Russia border closed until further notice
Finland shut its land borders with Russia in late 2023 amid a growing number of arrivals from countries including Syria and Somalia. Barriers are placed at the closed Vaalimaa border check point between Finland and Russia in Virolahti, Finland, January 14, 2024. Reuters
Finland said on Wednesday it had decided to keep its eastern border against neighbouring Russia closed until further notice.
Finland shut its land borders with Russia in late 2023 amid a growing number of arrivals from countries including Syria and Somalia. It has accused Moscow of weaponising migration against the Nordic nation in retaliation for joining the NATO military alliance, an assertion the Kremlin denies.
"The risk that instrumentalised migration will resume and expand as seen previously remains likely," the government said in a statement.
It said it would regularly assess the situation and repeal or amend it if opening it no longer posed "a serious threat to national security or public order".
Finland has also put in place an exceptional emergency law that allows it to reject asylum applications from migrants crossing its closed eastern border with Russia and to send them back.
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