Finland closed four of its nine border crossings with Russia late Friday to stop a sudden influx of Middle Eastern and African migrants – accusing the Kremlin of sending them in revenge for joining NATO earlier this year.
“It is clear that these people are being helped and that they are also being escorted or transported to the border by border guards,” Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said on Tuesday as he announced the upcoming crackdown.
At least 280 asylum seekers, mainly from Syria, Yemen, Somalia, and Iraq, have arrived in Finland via Russia since September, Finnish authorities said on Thursday – and another 100 swarmed the country’s southern crossing on Friday before the closure.
They arrive at the entry station by bicycle or on foot after entering Russia legally from their country of origin.
“It is not about the number of asylum seekers, but about Finnish national security and changes in Russian activities,” said Riikka Purra, Finland’s finance minister.
Finland, which shares an 830-mile border with Russia, became the 31st member of the NATO military alliance between Europe and the United States in April, in response to international tensions over Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
Finnish authorities installed a fence at the Nuijamaa border crossing station to stop the flow of asylum seekers arriving via Russia. Lauri Heino/Shutterstock Migrants who arrived at the Finnish border on Thursday — the day before entry stations were to close — are loaded into vans by border guards. Lehtikuva/AFP via Getty Images A sign warns tourists that no entry into Russia is allowed through the crossing station at Lappeenranta, Finland. Lauri Heino/Shutterstock
European Union President Ursula von Leyen praised Finland’s new border policy.
“The Russian apparatus against immigrants is shameful,” he said write on X.
“I thank the Finnish Border Guard for protecting our European borders.”
A small group of ethnic Russian protesters gathered outside the Finnish Parliament on Saturday to protest the closure.AP
Two border crossings in the far north of Finland will continue to accept asylum applications, Orpo said.
The closed entrance will remain closed until February 18.
A Kremlin spokesman said that Finland made a “big mistake.”
“Finnish authorities have taken a path to destroy bilateral relations,” Dmitry Peskov told the state news agency TASS.
with Postal wire
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
